For Those Pesky Lookie-Loos Outside your Loo: Contact-Papered Windows (Shoji-Screen Style)

My husband and I live in a rented apartment.Now, in said apartment the bathroom's single medium-sized window (which I feel is quite large for any bathroom) is placed so "cleverly" as to allow me to gaze out into the beautious world while I sit ever-so-peacefully on the toilet, taking a poo. Nice, eh? Picture it. Not only can I bird-watch while I eliminate, but birdies (and people alike if they come to pay a visit) can return my gaze (!) since the window in mention is also situated alongside our front door and facing the front stoop which is shared by a neighboring apartment. I feel so exposed.

Being on a tight budget, as most of us are these days, I couldn't just go out and buy window treatments. I had to keep the purchases to a bare minimum or make do with stuff I already had at home. So at some point, probably while I was in a receptive and prone position on the toilet, I had this brilliant idea of custom painting a removable window film with clear contact paper and cheap acrylics. I already had a roll of contact paper in my craft cupboard (I like to use it for laminating various things, you know, when you randomly need to laminate) along with an assortment of paintbrushes to choose from... all I needed was a new paint color, and with a short bike-ride to the craft store I was able to pick up a small tube for 97 cents. With simple supplies spread all around - a ruler, a pencil, a handful of clothes-pins, paintbrush, paint, and contact paper - like a kiddie in grade school I plunked myself down on the kitchen floor and got to work.

I have to admit, I can't take credit for the idea of using contact paper on windows. I wish I could, because whoever figured it out is a smartie. As materials go, it's cheap, easy to adhere, and totally removable. Unfortunately, I can't remember where I came across the source, so I can't give credit where credit is due. But I did use my pretty little head to imagine a design, however simple. I wanted something akin to a Japanese Shoji-screen, using an off-white paint to look like rice paper...sorta. As to what design you choose, the options are endless - you might enjoy a a multi-colored stained glass replication, a black and white geometric pattern, or a soft Monet-like scene of flowers. I hope this gives you some inspiration to try it out in some form in your home (whether on a window, a glass curio cabinet or cupboard, or a glass coffee table, etc.)

Here's My Beautifully Imperfect, Homemade Shoji-Style Window Screen

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN REMOVABLE WINDOW FILM

Materials You Will Need:

• Clear* Contact Paper a.k.a Shelf Liner (*You can use opaque contact paper, but this will prevent light from filtering through, rendering your window useless. If your aim is to pretend you don't have a window there, then this would be a good idea I suppose.)
• Acrylic Paint* or Etching/Glass Specific Paint (*Some acrylics stick better to slick surfaces than others. If you're concerned about flaking/chipping, go with paint made specifically for glass. The cheapo acryclic I bought flakes off if I mess with it, but I touch the surface of the window pane as little as possible. I went for the temporary and frugal application option, but you can certainly make yours more lasting with an upgrade in materials.)
• A Paint Brush
• Measuring Tape
• Ruler
• Scissors
• Pencil
• Stencils (Optional)
• Clothespins or Stones or Whatever (to hold down the corners and sides of the paper as they tend to roll under on their own)

What You Do With Those Materials [is really up to you] :

1. Measure the height and width of your window pane, then cut out a sheet of contact paper to fit that size exactly. I recommend using a ruler and carefully marking off height and width at several spaced intervals along the sheet before cutting, to be sure you have an even rectangle. *Don't remove the paper backing of the contact paper.
2. Place a handful of clothespins or other paper-weights along the corners and edges of the contact paper to prevent the sheet from rolling itself up while you paint.
3. Go at it! Paint your window screen (on the side that is not the paper backing side), then let it dry. Using a hair dryer on cool or low heat speeds the drying process, if you're as impatient as I am.
4. When adhering the finished screen to your window, enlisting the help of a buddy is really nice. Peel away just a little bit of the paper backing on one side or corner and align the screen properly on your window, then press that small area down and smooth out the bubbles. Keep the screen partly rolled up, especially if adhering it alone, and unroll it a little bit at a time - this helped me immensely. Peel a little more away and press it down, peel some more and press it down, unroll some more, peel some more,...until you've got it stuck on completely. Using your hands, gently smooth out any remaining bubbles (if using the cheapo acrylic, you'll probably have to do this VERY gently to keep the paint from flaking).
5. And that's it! Enjoy you're new-found privacy and revel in the fact that you made this yourself!

Keep Crafting With Contact Paper! : Try painting your own decals and cut them out free-hand-style for unique and cheap seasonal decoration!

Note: Contact Paper is completely removable, but not really re-usable. The non-sustainable ramifications make me weep, but it's still a neat and resourceful idea if you ask me.

Self-Proclaimed, A Granola-Eatin' Peacenik

Good for the belly and good for the soul - Homemade granola is quickly becoming one of this health-conscious housewife's household staples because it's a perfect breakfast for those mornings when we're short on time and don't want to prepare a meal, it's filling enough to give us energy and keep us satisfied for most of the morning, and it's cheaper than store-bought granola or other cereals. Making granola at home also means that I can add whatever ingredients I choose, based on what I have on hand or what's on sale, and I can control how much sweetener is added (personally, I like a less sweet, more savoury granola). Thus, it's extremely versatile. Even more awesome is that I don't have to follow a complicated recipe to make it, because once you've made granola you know how to make granola. Think oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Throw in a little bit of this, a little bit of that, add some oil and sweet stuff, and get it all toasty - it's just that easy. Here's an example of a delicious granola recipe you can try:

Mix in a large bowl:

3 Cups Old Fashioned Oats

1/2 Cup Dried Coconut (Grated)

1/4 Cup Sunflower Seed Kernels

1/4 Cup Pumpkin Seeds

1/2 Cup Pistachios

1/4 Cup Almonds

1 TBSP Sesame Seeds

1 Tsp Ground Cinnamon

1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil (of your choosing)

1/8 Cup - 1/4 Cup Brown Rice Syrup (or sweetener of your choice, like agave, honey or maple syrup)

Pour the mixture into a non greased baking dish and bake for about 30 minutes on 350 degrees, stirring every 10 minutes. When oats are toasted a light brown and smell oh so yummy, remove from heat, and stir in:

1/4 Cup Dried Apple Chunks

1/4 Cup Raisins

1/4 Cup Dried Date Chunks

Let it come to room temperature, then scoop the granola goodness into an airtight jar or tin and store in a cool, dry place until it's devoured. Then make some more!

Oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit. Oats, nuts, seeds, and fruit.

Drizzle Drip Go the Raindrops

I wait with longing for cloud-break. Damp and musty, the walls are swollen and seem to press in as if they're listening for a whispered secret. Hush, go ahead.

Here's an Apartment Eye-Spy while we wait for the sun to grace us with its presence again. (UPDATE: It's 9 am and there's a soft glow about the trees - I daresay, the sun may be rubbing its eyes and leaving the pillowy clouds after all...or not.)

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paper umbrell mobile, from powell's books in portland, oregon
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old tincture bottle serving as makeshift vase for the sweetest little flowers picked outside our apartment

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cutting of a pothos plant, at home in a stone-filled jar, adorned with a re-purposed bamboo window shade

"My Sushi Was Home-Rolled...How About Yours?"

How to Host Your Own All-You-Can-Roll Sushi (Makizushi) Night

You might be asking yourself, "But isn't it difficult to roll sushi?"

In answer: "Yes, masters often must first apprentice for years and years in order to have the sole privelage of making sushi rice and then maybe later they learn to roll, but also no, really anyone can do it. Haha. It's actually a fairly forgiving process, once you get the basic concepts down. There is some, a little finesse involved in not over-stuffing the maki rolls so they stay sealed and in getting them to look all neat and tidy for presentation, but who truly cares what your sushi looks like as long as it tastes good, right?"

Short answer: "Lighten up! Don't take things so seriously." That's what I say.

Anyone can do this! If you must obsess about presentation, put any ugly dud-rolls on a separate plate or eat up your mishaps as you go along. Keep the atmosphere light-hearted and laid-back, laugh and chat while you roll, compare unique filling combinations you may come upon with the rest of the group and after piling the finished sushi onto a couple of platters, feast until your hearts and stomachs are content. You'll delight in the surprises you get when tasting eachother's handiwork.

Aside from your imagination and a sense of adventure, the Essential Tools You'll Need are:

• Sushi Rice (see recipe to follow) - ingredients for sushi rice include Short-Grain Sushi Rice (white or brown), Rice Vinegar, Water, Sugar (or sugar substitute), Salt
• Rice Cooker to make the rice, or a solid pot and fitting lid... I mean, c'mon, you're just making rice. No biggie. But I'll probably be shunned for saying that.
• Nori Sheets (Toasted Seaweed Sushi Wrapper) - one sheet makes about 5 or 6 pieces of maki or 1 hand-roll
• Sharp Knife for cutting maki
• Fillings, to taste (more ideas to follow)
• Wasabi, to taste
• Soy Sauce, to taste
• Pickled Ginger, to taste
• A Healthy Appetite (without this, you're lost)

I've found that some Helpful, But Not At All Necessary Tools include:

• Bamboo Sushi Mat for assisted rolling. I don't use one. I roll with my bare hands. Yep, I'm hard-core, can you handle it?
• Wooden Spatula for spreading the sushi rice. I use my fingers, wetting them with water first to minimize sticking. Whatever floats your boat, though.
• Several Shallow Dishes or Plates to cool and present the sushi rice, enough for guests to use conveniently without reaching too often in front of others (or everyone can just take turns - that works too.)
• Bowls of Water and Dish Towels to wet/rinse fingers off and wipe hands.
• Mini Shallow Dishes for serving soy sauce and wasabi.

To Make Sushi Rice:

You'll need 1 lb. short-grain rice (white or brown), 2 1/2 cups of water, 5 tbsp rice vinegar, 3 tbsp sugar (or desired sugar substitution - I use agave), and 2 tbsp salt.

Place the rice in a rice cooker, add water, and follow the manufacturer's directions for cooking. Or

place the rice in a pot with lid and add the water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer very low with steam for 15 -20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Taste-test a grain or two to check for chewiness. If it's still crunchy and not softened/sticky yet, add more water and continue a low simmer. I usually have to add an additional 1/2 cup of water because my rice cooker heats up too quickly. Remove the rice from heat and spread it out on plates or in shallow dishes, so it can cool evenly. You may try fanning it with a magazine or something similar to cool it quicker.

While the rice is cooking, mix the vinegar, salt, and sugar in a saucepan and heat gently while stirring until the sugar dissolves. Remove this from heat and let it cool before drizzling it over the rice. Run a spatula through the rice gently to evenly distribute the mixture through the grains.

To Prepare Nori Sheets with Rice and Fillings Before Rolling:

Lay nori sheet smooth side down (one side is slightly rougher/textured) on a rolling mat or table surface, vertically so it's tall rather than wide in front of you, and spread (press down) a very thin layer of rice on the bottom 3/5 to 3/4 of the sheet (leave a strip at the top for overlapping to seal). I personally like to go with the 3/5 ratio for slightly smaller maki that is more pop-in-your-mouth sized, and this also helps me prevent over-stuffing or seam bursting.

Across your rice (halfway between the top of the rice and the bottom), horizontally lay your fillings in a narrow strip grouped together like tiny logs, keeping the diameter of the combined "logs" to no more than 1/2 inch.

A General Idea of How To Roll:

Roll from the bottom to the top, gently pinching the fillings together for tightness and gently squeezing the nori roll as you go to keep uniformity. Stop when you've reached the end of the rice, and moisten the remaining nori with water or soy sauce using your finger tip. Continue rolling and seal the nori.

Cutting the maki is slightly easier when the roll has set for a minute. Clean or wet the knife in between cuts to allow for a smooth glide through the maki. Note: Even if you don't have an awesome sushi chef's knife or your knife is not ultra sharp, you can achieve a cleaner cut without smooshing your roll by doing a tenderly slow sawing motion (sooo tenderly) until you've sliced through.

As for the goodies within...

There are a million possibilities of sushi filling variations. I try to add one off-the-wall ingredient each time:

Sometimes I hit upon perfection, sometimes the flavors are just "meh"then my tongue says, "Whatever, not impressed,"and rarely I make something that's just too weird for my buds to handle. Recently I sampled my own ochra, sprouts, and pomegranite vinegarette sushi which I wasn't so keen on - the okra was too slimy - and luckily I didn't subject any other innocent folk to those odd-ball rolls. Also not a fan of hard-boiled egg and celery in my sushi. But I've hit upon some tasty pairings, namely the addition of crunchy, dried, fried garlic bits, which I found come in a jar at the asian market (in the seasonings section) for quite cheap. Scrambled eggs are equally delicious paired with almost anything, especially with grilled salmon and cream cheese.Additionally, I've done a soft filling of pureed edame seasoned with curry and garlic chile sauce,and I'd give that a big huge thumbs up! Give your spice rack a once over and consider sprinkling in some curry powder, ground ginger, or cumin before rolling it up. Or try spreading on some hummus.

Common Fillings That are Golden include: Cucumbers, avocado, green onion, sprouts, daikon, shredded carrot, smoked salmon, tuna, crab, scrambled egg, tofu, cream cheese, Vegenaise, sesame seeds