Local Louisville: Uber

Just in time for the multitude of Kentucky Derby festivities, Louisville now has a new option for car service: Uber.  Uber is a mobile app that will place you with a private driver within minutes, and all rides are charged directly to your credit card on file - eliminating the need to carry cash.

Louisville Uber riders can select between multiple vehicles: uberX, UberBlack, or Uber SUV.  Uber states that the most economical ride will cost you 20% less than a standard taxi.

Using Uber is simple: Use the app to request a ride.  Your driver will come to you and you’ll receive a text when your Uber arrives.  Your credit card information is on file, and will be charged directly.  A receipt will be emailed to you.  That’s it!

First time Uber riders can enjoy a $20 discount with code DIYLOU, expires 6/30/14.

Have a fun and safe Kentucky Derby week, DIY’ers!

~julee~

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Show Off Your Shoes with Ross Dress for Less

Confession time:  I’m a girl who loves shoes.  True story, my 1st and 2nd jobs when I was a teenager were in shoe departments in retail shops, and that wasn’t a coincidence.  So when Ross Dress for Less informed me that they were having a Show Off Your Shoes shoe selfie promotion and asked if I wanted to participate, I was all up for the challenge.

It works like this: Shop at Ross and find a fabulous pair of shoes, then take a shoe selfie with those beauties.  Upload your photo to Ross’s Facebook page saying why you love your shoes, and ask your friends to vote for you.  So fun, and you’ll have a chance to win a Ross gift card!  (Click here for more details.)

So what super cute shoes did I find at Ross this week?  Well, for starters, I was blown away by the selection.  So many cute and trendy summer shoes, in so many pretty colors and styles: Flats, wedges, heels, strappy sandals, flip flops, boat shoes, sneakers – you name it, Ross had it at affordable prices.



Because the selection was so great, I had a hard time selecting a favorite pair.  I am really in need of a new pair of heels to wear with summer dresses, but I fell in love these brown oxfords with the ribbon laces.  (Despite the fact that I already have two pairs of oxfords, but who’s counting.)



Ultimately, though, I found a pair of strappy wedges that may or may not have made me whimper a little when I saw them – I have been searching for a similar style since last summer and I felt like I hit the jackpot with these babies.  Behold (but look past the haphazard pedicure – it’s been a long winter, people):



This is my shoe selfie.  Show Ross yours!  Between now and April 18th, upload your favorite Ross shoes on the Ross Dress for Less Facebook promotion page for your chance to win.  If you enter, leave your link here – I’d love to come over and see your shoes!

If you'd like to vote for my shoes, you can do so here: http://bit.ly/1gRz3n6   Thanks!

~julee~

A gift card was provided by Ross to share my shopping experience.  All opinions are 100% mine.

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Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad

Our meals rock a lot of quinoa around here.  It’s healthy, easy to fix, and  adaptable to just about any cuisine that it’s a staple at dinner quite often.  This is one of my favorite quinoa salads.  Just toss the cooked quinoa with the veggies and eat warm as a dinner side dish, or cold by itself for lunch the following day.  The prep to this is so minimal, even all you other non-cooks like me can give this a go.

Sugar Snap Pea Quinoa Salad

Ingredients: 

1 cup quinoa

3/4 pound sugar snap peas, thinly sliced

2 scallions, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons olive oil

Kosher salt and black pepper to taste

1) Cook the quinoa according to package directions and 2) Toss with all the other stuff.  Then 3) Eat up.

So a couple of things:  We use our rice cooker to cook our quinoa.  Add quinoa and water, push cook, and I never have to think about it again.  Makes perfect quinoa.  And, I never actually measure out the sugar snap peas.  I love snap peas, and some days I feel like eating a million of those sweet little pods so I’ll use up a ton for this recipe.  Some days, however, we only have a handful of the little gems hanging out in the bottom of the crisper so I’ll just toss in what scarce bit I have.  The point is, this recipe is good with either a lot of peas, or with a few peas- adapt it to your liking.

Are you a fan of quinoa?  What are some of your favorite quinoa recipes?  I’d love to hear about them in the comments.

~julee~

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Candy Filled Paper Mache Eggs

What’s your favorite Easter treat?  I have a firm belief that all Easter eggs should be filled with chocolate.  These cute paper mache Easter eggs can be filled with small chocolates, jelly beans and fun trinkets.
Due the drying time on these, you’ll need to plan accordingly.  However, they have a good getting-your-hands-gooey vibe that kids love.  Plus, you have to rip them open to get to the goods inside.



Supplies Needed:  Water balloons, liquid starch, tissue paper.  Also, candy or trinkets to place inside.
Start by cutting your colored tissue paper into 1 or 2-inch squares.  If you’d like to add polka dots to your eggs, use several sheets of paper at once through a paper punch.



Inflate a balloon to your desired size.  Brush on liquid starch.  Leaving the balloon’s tie uncovered, wrap a solid sheet of tissue paper cut to size around the balloon to give it a solid base.  Brush on the liquid starch as needed to keep the paper on the balloon.  Then, add the squares of paper one by one around the balloon, again, brushing on the starch as needed to keep the paper down.  Do not brush hard or the paper will rip.  You’ll only need enough starch to affix the paper.  The more starch you use, the longer it will take to dry.



Once the paper is fully dry, use a pin to poke the balloon, holding on to the tie as it deflates.  The balloon should pull out easily.  From the hole in the top, cut a small slit in the balloon just large enough to place your treats.  Cover the slit with a small piece of tissue paper, and affix it with the liquid starch. 



To remove the treats inside, the paper on the egg must be torn.  Fun!



Happy Easter crafting, DIY’ers!

~julee~

Watch the video as I demo how to make paper mache eggs on WDRB in the Morning:

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Egg Carton Easter Chick

A little egg carton chick to hide some chocolate Easter eggs = Cuteness overload.  Seriously.  And while these egg carton Easter chicks are perfect for kids to put together, adults will have just as much fun helping – at least I did.  And the best part of all is that you probably already have all of the supplies needed for this one.




Supplies Needed:  Paper egg carton, yellow paint, tape, colored paper, feathers (optional), black marker.
1) Cut two egg holder pieces (do these have a technical name?) from the carton.  2) Paint.  3)  Attach the two pieces together with a piece of tape to create a hinge.  4)  Use colored paper to make the beak, feet, and wings (or use feathers for wings, as shown).  5)  Draw on a pair of eyes. 6)  Fill with candy and give to your best peep.



Happy Easter crafting, DIY’ers!

~julee~

Watch the video as I demo how to make recycled egg carton chicks on WDRB in the Morning:

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