I had a whole list of posts that were supposed to get edited and scheduled for this past week, but after my closing on the 14th was delayed to the next day, and the next, and the next and a few blizzards in between, any idea of a schedule or To Do list kind of flew out the window. That’s okay though because…. I FINALLY BOUGHT A HOUSE!
Today is a really special day for me.. not because I’m overly patriotic and love celebrating President’s Day, but it’s because on this day 3 years ago I decided to get really honest with myself and with others. I had come to the realization that one chapter of my life was ending, but I had no idea what was ahead. I didn’t know where I’d be living in the next several months and I didn’t know how to start the conversation that would break hearts, mine included. I’ve been struggling to write this and put it out into the world for quite some time now. The story seems lengthy and complicated.. I’m worried my words will not come out the way that I would like. I’m worried about being misjudged, but I have to remember that none of that is my business. This is for me.
I created this cocktail toward the end of summer, but it turned out so pretty and romantic looking that I thought I would save it for February. Not only does it look like Valentine’s Day in cocktail form, but as sweet and pretty as this cocktail looks, it packs a mean punch of heat that’s perfect for staying warm on these chilly February days. I mixed my own habanero infused vodka with a grapefruit and rose infused vodka I found from Ketel One. I added fresh grapefruit juice to bring out the flavor even more and a spoonful of Rose’s Grenadine Syrup for a little sweetness. Throw in some rose petals and fall in love with your new favorite cocktail… Was that cheesy enough for you?
Whether you love it or hate it, Valentine’s is just 2 days away and I’ve got a little something for everyone.. The couples, the crafty, the heartbroken, and even something for your sweet little feline friend (because let’s be real.. your cat is probably your soulmate). These are a few of my favorites I’ve created over the years and I hope that you find something you want to try no matter how you celebrate or don’t celebrate the day!
1. Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes
Let’s kick this off with something decadent! I made these cupcakes using a chocolate porter in the cake, fresh strawberries for the frosting, and homemade chocolate covered strawberries. It’s a two for one dessert!
Get the full recipe here
2. The Heartbreaker Cocktail
If your heart is on the mend after a rough break up, this one is for you! A bold rum cocktail that will make you forget all about the dirty rotten ex that broke your heart!
Get the full recipe here
3. Refillable Catnip Heart Toy
You can’t forget about your little ride or die buddy on Valentines Day! I often say Punk is my soulmate because she has been through it all with me. If you feel the same about your feline friend, celebrate them with this easy to make refillable catnip toy. Also scroll to the end of the tutorial for bonus photos of Punky geeking out on catnip because I know you all are just following me for her anyway! 😉
Get the full tutorial here
4. Broken Heart Tattoo Cookies
If you’re anti-Valentine’s guy or gal like myself then you’ll love making these! Filled with mini candies when you break them open, these tattoo-inspired cookies are as much fun to eat as they are to make! Check out the full post to see some of the other fun phrases I added to mine.
Get the full recipe here
5. Bloody Valentine Heart Wreath
Okay.. are you seeing a bit of a theme with my posts? Haha I made this wreath one year when Friday the 13th fell before Valentine’s Day. I sort of fused the two of them for this “blood” splattered creation.
Get the full tutorial here
6. Chocolate Covered Bacon
For the bacon lovers in your life.. this is a hundred times better than a box of chocolates with mystery fillings.
Get the full recipe here
7. Valentine in a Bottle
Skip the cheesy Hallmark cards and make a completely custom Valentine in a Bottle!
Get the full tutorial here
8. Brownie Dessert Cups with Whipped Cream & Raspberry Sauce
We’ll end this on a sweet note… rich heart shaped brownies, homemade whipped cream, and raspberry sauce make the perfect treat to enjoy with your sweetheart.. or if you’re single you can enjoy them both – no shame
Get the full recipe here
Have a Happy Valentine’s or Anti-Valentine’s Day!
Valentines Day is just a few days away and if you want to skip the crowded restaurants and impress your partner with a simple, but restaurant quality dinner at home instead, I’ve got just the dish! Not only does this walnut crusted salmon cost a fraction of what you’d pay for it in a restaurant, but it’s surprisingly quick and easy to throw together and can be prepped the night before.
An outer crust of pureed walnuts, blood orange zest, and a little garlic make a flavorful and crunchy complement to the tender salmon. There’s no fancy techniques here, just toss it under the broiler for 7 minutes and let it cook to perfection. Top it all off with a simple sweet and spicy blood orange salsa and you’re done!
After a few whirlwind days in Paris we were ready for the next city in our Europe trip, Avignon. I chose this city because of the fairy-tale like architecture and it wasn’t overly populated with tourists. To get there we had to take the train, which was the fastest and most affordable, but a holy nightmare when you’re lugging two giant bags and have to quickly scramble off and onto your next connecting train. We managed to make it and the train ride itself was quite enjoyable. I spent most of it just staring out of the window watching these beautiful French farmhouses whirl past us at 200 mph.
I shared a sneak peek at this Bloody Mary creation via Instagram and the response was mostly a lot of expletives and excitement, which I interpreted as a good thing! I don’t mess around when it comes to Bloody Marys and creating this one was no exception.
I switched up my usual homemade Bloody mix by adding balsamic vinegar, olive juice, Italian seasoning, and homemade basil infused vodka, which complemented my Italian influenced garnishes perfectly. You can get as complex or as simple as you’d like with those too. I personally love a drink that is a meal in itself so I skewered some of my favorites.. olives, mozzarella, prosciutto, peppered salami, cherry tomatoes, Italian meatball sliders, and my favorite go-to appetizer, Goat Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms. It was, as I learned how to say in Italy, molto bene!
Goodness gracious.. how is it still January?! By this point I thought I would be writing, “I can’t believe it’s March!” but something about this month has just stretched on for an unnecessarily long time. Perhaps sliding my car into a ditch twice, the white knuckle drives home in the snow, and/or that I’m just two weeks away from hopefully/maybe/possibly/ CLOSING ON MY FIRST HOME!
I’m waiting to hear back about the appraisal, but as long as that’s good, we’ll close on Valentines Day.. which will finally give me a good reason to celebrate it! The tricky part about this home is that even though it will officially be mine, we cannot move in full time until the new septic is installed. I’m looking at the silver lining of the situation and waiting to move in will give us time to thoroughly clean, paint, and repair some of the major things needed first (like maybe that gutter that’s dangling off the back of the house). Utilities are also higher this time of year given the arctic temps so it will all work out for the better that we’re forced to wait a bit longer.
That hasn’t stopped me from obsessively watching Fixer Upper and then looking at photos of my house and saying, “Yep, we’ll just knock out this wall here, add a second bath there, put French doors in here, and shiplap on everything!” I’m certainly no Joanna Gaines (probably more like Chip than anything), but I’m most looking forward to sharing this home with you all too. I’ve been wanting to expand the topics and structure of this blog into something much more and a big part of that will be adding home renovations, DIYs, sustainable living tips, and sharing more of my lifestyle and personal insights.
This might be a good time to gently introduce you guys to an idea that’s been rolling around in my head for awhile and that’s to say goodbye to Tattooed Martha..
I’m not talking about the blog, but the name itself I’m ready to part with. Tattooed Martha was born from a kitschy pun of being a Tattooed Martha Stewart.. cooking, baking, crafting, and entertaining, but I really don’t want to stay pigeon holed to just that. I also feel like it was identity created with another part of my life. A life when I was married, living in Portland, traveling around to tattoo conventions, and doing pin-up style photo shoots. It’s just not really who I identify with anymore and I’d like to be known as Sasha and not this “character” that people have envisioned. I hope that when I make the transition to something different, you, my readers, understand that we all evolve throughout our lives and it’s okay to let go of parts that no longer serve us.
The blog will remain a big part of who I am and what I do (and don’t worry.. all the content that’s on here now will still be there after a name change), but I’ve got a vision so much bigger than just a blog.
I’m certainly curious to hear everyone’s thoughts on this change, just know that my mind is made up on the matter! Haha just not the name, so perhaps you’ve got a few ideas of your own. Comment below and let me know what you think or tell me about a time where you were at a crossroads of letting go of something that no longer felt true to who you are.
Be sure to follow along on Instagram for sneak peeks at the house, recipes, and more!
Ever since our trip to Italy I’ve been craving a big plate of decadent buttery seafood and pasta.. and of course wine.. and beautiful views.. and listening to everyone speak in perfect Italian. But since I won’t be venturing back to Italy this year I opted to at least satisfy my cravings for the pasta, seafood, and wine! I’m happy to say that this dish did the trick and the best part was that it made A TON so I was able to enjoy seconds and have plenty for lunches throughout the week!
I sauteed the shrimp in butter with fresh garlic and lemon zest and then tossed everything together with the Lemon Garlic Parsley Pesto I shared yesterday. The tender garlic butter shrimp, tangy lemon, buttery al dente angel hair pasta, and the bright and zesty flavors from the pesto added complex flavors to a surprisingly simple dish. I didn’t even care about how much pesto I had in my teeth because I was in a proverbial pasta heaven!
The only thing that would have made this dish better is if I would have used homemade pasta, which I can hopefully do very soon! My boyfriend gifted me a pasta maker for Christmas after we took a pasta making class during our stay in Rome. With the impending close date on our first home, I’ll be making all kinds of pasta and new dishes for you out of my new (old) kitchen! Until then, you’ve got this one to enjoy!
At the end of fall I couldn’t bear to part with my garden, so I transplanted some of my herbs into pots that now have a happy and warm home in front of my window. The Italian flat leaf parsley was starting to get a little crazy because I really just don’t cook with it all that often. I challenged myself to look for recipes where parsley was more than just a garnish and I am quite happy I did!
I cut nearly all of the parsley and turned it into a pesto with some lemon zest, garlic, and Parmesan cheese and then tossed it with a shrimp pasta I was making. It completely made the dish, but then I decided to just try it on it’s own with some baguette slices and that didn’t disappoint either! The flavor is bright, tangy, and fresh and was a nice change from the usual basil pesto.