DIY: Cool Cubes!

Ok, so you may start seeing some more DIY posts...I've been working on some things! I'm super excited about this one. 


So at the beginning of the school year, I used some of my "teacher funds" to buy these:


They're pretty awesome...four cubes with dry erase surfaces. They're great for the classroom! Unfortunately, they also belong to my school. Since I won't be there next year, I won't have access to them. Also sometimes I find myself wanting a few more cubes. I looked at them one day and thought to myself..."Hey, those are literally just colorful foam squares with white surfaces on them...pretty sure I can do that." And thus began the wheels in my head.


First, I needed something light. With my kids, I couldn't use something like wooden blocks or even heavy plastic...someone would get hurt. The solution? The new computer printer. Finally the school got a new color printer that doesn't print streaks! Better yet, the printer came packed in Styrofoam:

Using my pocket knife and scissors, I hacked 6 cubes out of the various pieces, 2 small, 2 medium, 2 large. Then I dug out some scraps of brightly colored fabric and covered them, using my handy glue gun to secure them. 

I cut some squares of card stock and sent them through the laminator. (Laminated papers double as dry erase surfaces!) 


Using the glue gun again, I affixed the card stock squares to each of the cubes. The end results:

Im super excited! I didn't pay a cent for these guys. Ironically, I grabbed a bag to put them in, and it happened to be a Cheesecake Factory bag. 

Crazy?? The colors match! Anyway, these are great to use in the classroom, and now I have a set of 6!

Labor Day burgers!

Labor Day is for picnics, no? What's a vegetarian-ish to do? (I added the -ish because I've been smelling the barbecue ALL WEEKEND and I have been utterly tempted.) Well, you see, you make black bean burgers! I got this recipe from ReadyMade, one of my FAVORITE magazines. I had to alter it a little because I didn't have all the ingredients. They turned out really well!

Yield: 4 burgers

2 (14-ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained, divided
3 tablespoons plain yogurt
1/3 cup plain dry bread crumbs
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
1/4 teaspoon cayenne
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
generous pinch of salt
1/4 cup finely chopped cilantro
1 lime
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 soft hamburger buns

Accompaniments: sliced avocado, romaine, salsa, sliced sharp cheddar

Pulse 1 can beans in a food processor with yogurt, bread crumbs, cumin, oregano, cayenne, paprika and salt until a coarse purée forms. Transfer to a bowl and stir in cilantro and remaining can beans. Add as much juice from the lime as needed to create a mixture that holds together well (you likely won’t need the entire lime; slice the leftover lime into wedges and serve with the burgers). Form mixture into 4 patties.

Heat oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers (alternatively, heat a grill pan and brush it with the oil). Cook burgers until outsides are crisp and lightly browned, turning once, about 5 minutes total. Serve on buns, along with the accompaniments.

Tomorrow is the first day of school...and school! I have the elementary/middle school classes in the morning, and my graduate class in the evening. Wish me luck and pray HARD!