Emma Erla Design Co
With or without a pandemic I am a huge fan of supporting local businesses, especially small businesses, and Etsy shops. I recently discovered Emma Erla Design Co., which is home to the cutest Big \’O\’ Wristlets, Keychains, and more. The best part is Emma Erla Design Co. is based in Michigan!
If you know me you know that I absolutely love cutesy accessories, so you can imagine my excitement when I discovered the Emma Erla Design Co. Etsy shop. My favorite accessory is the Big \’O\’ Wristlet. When it comes to keychains I am all about function, I love once that you can hang off your wrist, and this wristlet definitely steps up the keychain game. The Big \’O\’ Wristlet fits up your arm and living in Michigan with the current state of things, I am absolutely obsessed with it! When I go grocery shopping I attach my little \”wallet\” (it only fits my license and a charge card) to the jump ring alongside my keys. I keep the keychain high up on my arm and can easily access everything when I go to checkout and get back to my chair. The Big \’O\’ Wristlet definitely takes away a little bit of stress that comes with going grocery shopping while living in a hot zone.
The beaded keychains at Emma Erla Design Co. are simple yet chic. You can find anything from keychains that channel a Michigan woodland area or something as bright as a sunset. Whatever kind of simple keychain you\’re looking for Emma Erla Design Co is sure to have one to match your style.
With everything going on (here in Michigan we are still on a massive shutdown), I wanted to do something to send friends some positive vibes and thought that a keychain would be perfect. With the wide variety, Emma Erla Design Co. offers I have been able to find keychains that match all my girlfriend\’s personalities from the dessert dweller to the unicorn lover.
Why not spread some positive vibes and brighten your girlfriends days with a goodie from Emma Erla Design Co. on Etsy!
Stay up to date with all the new Emma Erla Design Co. releases on Instagram or visit her Etsy shop to get your shop on.
31 Things to Do in May (Quarantine Edition)
And just like that May has arrived. While some states are starting to lift their stay-at-home orders, Michigan is still in a state of emergency and was are 50 days as of tomorrow in quarantine. I know that spending time at home is getting to be difficult – trust me I am struggling probably more than you are. However, I will gladly stay safe at home if it means that loved ones are not being buried. This month\’s installment of my Things to Do serious will be another quarantine addition. It\’s a new month and a new opportunity to learn something new, discover what inspires you, and of course, catch up on your favorite shows. I hope you are all doing well safe at home and enjoy these 31 things to do in May.
1. Bring back the tradition of May Day. Gather flowers, candies, and other goodies to put in a \”basket\” and leave at your friends, family and neighbors doorstep. This is a tradition that everyone could use right now.
2. Commit to get ready each and every day. With losing my job, my motivation has been less than stellar. In fact, it\’s been abysmal. On Thursday I decided to get it together and get dressed, that\’s right I put on jeans. Even though I have nowhere to go I just feel better when I get dressed.
3. Take a walk and check out all of the spring blooms that are starting to pop up.
4. \’May the Fourth Be With You!\’ Happy Star Wars Day! Celebrate by watching your favorite Star Wars movie.
5. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tacos or nachos.
6. Hop on the House Party app and play games with friends.
7. It\’s National Tourism Day! While we may not be able to travel right now it\’s the perfect opportunity for you to plan a trip. I am thinking of car camping this year, so I am planning on doing some midwest travel if we end up getting released back into the wild.
8. Head to the nursery and grab some flowers, vegetables, and herbs to create your own garden.
9. If you haven\’t made bread yet, are you really even in quarantine? I posted my fool proof dutch oven no knead artisan bread. With only five ingredients it\’s the easiest recipe you will make!
10. Happy Mother\’s Day to all the mama\’s out there!
11. Have a cooking night with friends! Hop on zoom and have everyone make their favorite pizza and show it!
12. Create the ultimate s\’mores dessert board and have a campfire.
13. Don\’t forget to grab sunscreen and bug spray the next time you\’re at the store.
14. Take a relaxing bubble bath and just enjoy some \”me time.\”
15. Grab some carryout from your favorite local restaurant.
16. Don\’t forget to continue to support local!
17. Start a DIY project. I just made myself a scrunchie and Jack a matching bandana.
18. Go through your closet and bag up the clothing you no longer wear.
19. Give yourself a pedicure so your feet are ready to hit the streets or the backyard in flip flops.
20. Surprise a friend or family member with a delicious porch delivery.
21. Don\’t forget your pet needs loving too. Give them a bath, make them their favorite treat or give them extra belly rubs.
22. Try a new color of nail polish on your nails.
23. Have you started a new hobby yet? If not, what are you waiting for? I\’m currently looking for a fun cross-stitch kit to try.
24. Plan your dream vacation. Start budgeting, pricing out hotels, flights and experiences. Find out when the perfect time to go is and create a Pinterest board to back up the adventure. I am going to work on planning out a trip to Iceland and Banff!
25. Make a fun summer salad to enjoy outside.
26. Set aside no screen time. While on hikes I am keeping my phone in my pack so I can just enjoy the moment.
27. Send a handwritten card to someone to let them know that you\’re thinking about them.
28. Turn your bedroom into a hotel and bake some DoubleTree signature chocolate chip cookies.
29. Experiment in the kitchen and come up with a new recipe. I create this Hawaiian Fried Rice and I am literally obsessed.
30. Organize that room that you have been putting off.
31. I don\’t know what life will be like today, what kind of quarantine we will be in, but I do know this has taught me that life is precious and you never know what tomorrow will bring. Spread positivity energy and love to everyone you see. Even though we are all walking around the grocery store wearing a mask and you cannot see someone smile. Saying \”hello\” goes a long way and can completely change someone\’s day. I hope you all are doing well and I will see you tomorrow for the June edition of Things to Do – hopefully, it will involve some \”normal\” life.
Five Things
Dear May, please be kind to us. Today is day 49 of quarantine for me and the end of week seven. As I am sure you have heard, Michigan specifically the Metro Detroit area is in a very rough state. This week we broke the 40,000 COVID case mark and every day at least 100 people are paying away from the virus. These people are dying alone, and it honestly breaks my heart into a million pieces. Yesterday, Michigan\’s Governor extended Michigan\’s emergency and disaster declaration to May 28. It looks like we are in this for the long haul, however if it prevents me from having to bury family and friends I will gladly stay home all summer long.
If you\’ve been following me for a while you know that I am not the sit at home type. My schedule is usually jam-packed with events and I find myself constantly exploring new hiking trails. The trails, however, have suddenly become an uneasy place for me. I am not a fan of the people, no one is keeping their distance and I never thought I would say this, but I do not want to be out on them. Last week Jack and I did our best to get out and do some exploring. In order to get us out moving faster, I used my Kurgo G-Train K-9 pack with him – which definitely helped us pick up the pace and do some different exploring.
I cannot believe tomorrow is my day 50 of quarantine. While I thought the time would go by slowly, it\’s actually gone by very quickly. Which could be because I was previously working. This past week was filled with major job hunting, bright and early trips through the woods, which lead to seeing the herons in their rookery, porch deliveries of bread, and of course plenty of snacking. How was your week? Keep up with what I am doing every day by following me on Instagram.
Dutch Oven No Knead Artisan Bread
One thing I really am missing right now is the smell of fresh-baked bread. There is a local bakery where I would go to and pick up a piping hot ($9.99) loaf of artisan bread to enjoy with a weekend charcuterie board. Since the bakery is currently closed, and I can\’t get my favorite loaf of artisan bread I thought I would head to the kitchen and make my own. Plus, are you really living quarantine life if you have not made bread? I don\’t think so!
If you love bread, today I have something absolutely amazing to share with you. How does foolproof no knead artisan bread sound to you? Pretty good, right? This no knead bread recipe is so easy to make, and you do not need to have any kitchen skills to make it. With just five simple ingredients, you will be able to make the perfect round loaf of bread. With just some yeast, salt, flour, sugar and water you can tell everyone that you made your own bread! This recipe will provide you with a loaf of round artisan bread that is perfectly golden and crunchy on the outside, but soft on the inside – yum. The bread is perfect for dipping in your favorite soups, oils, toasting and covering with jam, adding as an accent to a charcuterie board and more. This fool proof no knead bread is about to become a staple in your kitchen.
Dutch Oven No Knead Artisan Bread
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
1/2 teaspoon active dry yeast
1/4 teaspoon white sugar (for activating the yeast)
1 1/2 cups warm water (bring it to a boil and then let it sit for a second)
Directions
1. Activate the yeast: Pour warm water into a small bowl. Sprinkle yeast on top.
2. Add sugar and give the mixture a small stir.
3. Place the bowl in a warm place for about 10-15 minutes.
4. Be patient! If the yeast is activated, you will see foam on top of the mixture and even a few small bubbles.
5. In a large bowl, whisk together flour, and salt.
6. Add water and yeast mixture.
7. Mix until just combined into a sticky dough.
8. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit for 12-18 hours.
9. After the dough has risen for at least 12 but preferably 18 hours, it should look loose, moist, and have bubbles on the surface.
10. When the dough is ready, preheat the oven to 450˚F.
11. Place your dutch oven (mine is a 3 qt) or cast iron pot in the oven to heat up for 30 minutes before baking.
12. Place dough on a well-floured surface.
13. Using plenty of flour on your hands, gently create a ball shape.
14 Us a knife to score the top of the dough as desired.
15. Place the dough onto a piece of parchment paper
16. Lightly dust the top of the dough with flour.
17. Cover and wait for your dutch oven to heat up.
18. Once the dutch oven has heated remove it from the oven.
19. Remove the cover over the dough and place both the parchment paper and the dough into the heated pot – make sure the parchment lines the bottom.
20. Place on a middle rack and cook covered for 30 minutes.
21. Remove the cover and cook another 10 minutes or until the bread is golden brown.
22. Cool on a wire rack.
23. Enjoy.
Coming Monday: Q & A with Executive-Producer, Matt Tolamach
Film lovers and film students alike, you\’ll want to check out the mind-blowing 80-second cut down of last week\’s class with THE THIRD FLOOR, the best-kept open secret in Hollywood. This Monday\’s class with Matt Tolamach is absolutely FREE and everyone is welcome!
Fashion meets Food 