Ninna Lu

My Art Oasis

 

 

I had the idea to set up my crafts in the courtyard this past weekend. It was such a beautiful day that I decided to paint outside. It almost felt like an art project oasis for me. Definitely therapeutic and also filled my time while staying at home over the weekend. Although it was temporary, I easily put everything back in its place and my courtyard was back to normal again. Who knows, I could set up in the backyard next time I'm inspired to create. 

 

Below is the heart chakra I painted. 

If you missed the Instagram Live from @makeandtake_hostedbyninnalu,

we are having one on April 5th, Sunday which starts at 2pm:

Creative Social Distancing - A Virtual Event

 

Speaking of crafts, take a quick visit through my collection of DIY's for at home ideas:

Ninna Lu | DIY Art & Crafts

For free coloring pages and other handy craft projects, check out:

Mister Art Resources

 

I do have to share with you, going towards my third weekend of staying at home, staying productive has been a bit of a challenge. Simultaneously, gathering events have been postponed or cancelled, we are unable to share the art experience in real life to many people within our community. Summer is also approaching, and the uncertainty of not being able to share this craft with others is almost saddening to me. As a result, I am offering local deliveries of the Make and Take painting kits through Ninna Lu's Facebook page until April 26th, please shoot me a message if you're interested: https://www.facebook.com/Shopninnalu/

Thank you so much for all your continued support!

Stay healthy and safe.

~ marissa

Ninna Lu | My Dinner Diary

 

Here is just a compilation of budget dinner ideas I created this week. Most of the time, I do follow a recipe. During this critical time of life, I used basic pantry staples and whatever I had in my spice cabinet. On a budget? So am I. Here is my budgeting resource:

Her Money | On Budgeting

 

Vegetable ingredients: eggplant, kale, baby carrots, shallots, and celery plus added chicken.

My budget meal strategy on this meal was to make two meals in one. For the next morning, I would just add beaten eggs to the extras for a veggie omelette for breakfast.

 

Below: Chicken, quinoa, sweet potatoes and spicy nopalitos.

I never thought to mix sweet potatoes with cactus before. I think they are called nopalitos. A whole jar was only $2.50.

Mixing flavors of sweet and spicy came out to be very good!

 

Sauteed shallots and tomatoes, penne pasta with DIY meatballs.

I wanted to add broth to my sauce but instead opted for leftover white wine, and lots of it. No measurements have been used in my cooking lately, I was going by just a taste test. I did add balsamic vinegar and pasta water. 

 

 

Baked almond bread to go with my hot teas. My daily Starbuck's intake has been cut to once a week,

and only drinking coffee or tea from home. 

I didn't have almond flour, but I had almond milk for that almond flavor.

There is a dry ingredients recipe that I did follow from Pinterest:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/145733737928012798/

 

 

This was a semi-homemade meal and saved time by using canned veggies.

Another budget dinner strategy was to thinly cut a chicken breast to have multiple slices. 

 

No cooking day!

I desparately needed a cooking break. I used what was in my pantry like canned beets, canned kidney beans and chia seeds. You can mix it all together and add dressing or separate all the raw ingredients.

 

Veggie and Bean Stew

This meal was my favorite. You can get a number of  meals with a huge bag of beans as all I used was one cup of beans. It was a mixture of beans, lentils, split peas and barley. Veggie ingredients were eggplant, carrots, celery, and shallots.

 

Most of these dinner stories were posted on my personal Facebook page and my personal Instagram stories. I thought why not post it on the blog! I've been cooking since I got married but I just recently discovered, while reflecting at home, that I do have a love for it. It has its calming effects. Once this is all over, I will look back at a time that I actually cooked everyday of the week! I pray for your safety and good health.

 

Thank you so much for reading.

~ marissa