SOCIAL MEDIA

02 April 2017

Trying Something New

When was the last time you tried something new?

It doesn't have to be something big or dramatic, but it could be. It could be smaller--a brand-new restaurant or trying out a different way to exercise.

This past week, I mentioned on Instagram that Angel and I were playing "Mom and Dad" for my two youngest sisters while my parents were in Korea with Rebekah. They were having all sorts of new experiences--neither Mom nor Rebekah had visited Korea before, so everything was new to them!

{Mom and Rebekah at Changdeokgung Palace}

We decided to fit a few new experiences into our week at home! Who ever said you had to leave town to try something you've never tried before?

First of all: We took a batik class!



I love and admire the batik artists of Malaysia--batik designs are created in a multi-step process in which designs are applied to the fabric with wax, which blocks dyes from affecting parts of the fabric, and then the fabric is dyed or painted, and the wax is removed from the fabric, and then the process is often repeated to layer different designs and different shades. I've worn batik fabrics and I've watched them being made, but this was my first time attempting to paint one on my own. Check out instagram to see what my pattern looked like when it was nearly finished...because apparently I haven't snapped a photo of the finished product yet.




The second thing we tried that was totally new-to-me was making homemade donuts! MaryGrace got a donut cookbook for her birthday a few weeks ago.

We decided to attempt real, legit cinnamon-sugar coated cake donuts. Deep-fried and everything.



I was surprised to discover a ruler in the kitchen, a ruler they used to make sure that the donuts were 1 cm in thickness--because the recipe book said they should be 1 cm in thickness. As someone who isn't normally very careful with recipes herself, I was impressed.

And the ruler worked! Or something did! Our oil was just the right temperature. The cake donuts ended up with that nice crunchy outside but were fluffy and fully-cooked inside.



Once coated in cinnamon sugar, they looked like real donuts! Really, really, real!


I mean, sure, it's slightly more oval than circular, but you cannot tell me that that donut isn't legit. They sure tasted legit, too.

What's New With You

So, what's the last completely new thing that you've done? I'd love to hear...it might give me some new ideas!
Robin said...

Those are beautiful. I had not heard of batik before. I recently experimented with fabric paints...decorated some pre-made pouches (little zipper or drawstring ones).

~ Robin
http://teaandlilac.blogspot.com

The Lady Okie said...

This is so fun! I have always wanted to make homemade donuts. Yours looked like the turned out great!

Miss Nutralicious said...

I love trying new things, and I think your new things are awesome! I recently made homemade play dough for the first time and it was so fun. I got to create my own color and cook it in a pan. It sounds kind of lame, but I swear it was more satisfying than cooking actual food! If you have never tried making play dough before, I highly recommend it.

Karen H. said...

The paintings are beautiful! I love trying new things. My family moves every 1-3 years so there is always a new area to explore. :)

Jill @ RunEatSnap said...

I don't know what Batik is but the pictures look cool! I have never tried to make donuts because it looks difficult. Glad to hear yours turned out well!

Kim Airhart said...

What fun!! I love trying new things. This past weekend I took a woodworking class. It was so much fun.

Beth said...

I have always wanted to try making donuts! Those look delicious!! I'd love to do a batik class too, I might have to look into that!

Shooting Stars Mag said...

I've never heard of batik but the results are beautiful. I really want to take some type of art class! Great job on the homemade donuts.

I've been trying to branch out and do more "new to me" things these past few years. One was taking a dance class, even though I'd never taken one in my LIFE. It was a lot of fun though and I want to find a new one for the summer.

-Lauren

rooth said...

The doughnuts turned out SO good. I'm nervous about frying things at home (not sure why) - maybe I'll have to give it a go

Unknown said...

I love that you took a batik class! And those donuts look delicious. I just treated myself to one yesterday... one of the best I've had in a long time :) It's fun to step outside of your comfort zone and try new and unique experiences, eh?

Hope you have a great week!

Emily said...

There are so many new things that I want to try. I would love to take an art class. I have never hear of batik, but it sounds interesting.

Trish @ The Trish List said...

That batik call looks like fun! So pretty! Also I have been saying forever that I'm going to make doughnuts. These look so yummy! I am doing a new 5 day goal every week so sometimes they are something new. I like trying new things, especially this time of year when the weather gets warmer.

Ashley Stephenson said...

It is always fun trying new things! Those doughnuts look so good! I have never tried to make them!

Brita Long said...

The art is beautiful, and the donuts look delicious!

Does buying a house count as doing something new? Because that has taken up the majority of the last 3 months.

Midnight Cowgirl said...

The batik class looks like a lot of fun, and homemade doughnuts sound like a total win :)

AnneMarie said...

Wow, I never knew what the batik process involved. That's so cool! Mmm, those donuts look awesome, too. I've only made donuts once, and while it involved more of a mess and work than I usually like, they were delicious. The biggest "new thing" that I've done lately is start house-hunting! Which has been exciting and crazy and just slightly daunting haha.

Shani Ogden said...

Those sounds like great activities! The batik looks amazing and I'd love to try it one day.

Mimi Rose said...

These look like such fun activities, and I love the concept of trying new things without necessarily having to travel. I had never heard of batik art before, but it looks pretty!

Aishwarya Shenolikar said...

Sounds like quite an adventure! The batik art looks fascinating.. Your youngest sister looks just like you. I need to take inspiration from this and do something new! :)

candy said...

Taking those painting classes are a big thing where I live. I have just been in the kitchen whipping up some new delicious recipes.

Dawn said...

That sounds so fun. My daughter would definitely like making doughnuts. I beleive I could paint if I were merely filling in the lines. LOL. It's great when we step out and try something new, even if we don't end up liking it. At least we tried.

Ruthie Ridley said...

So cool I love the art!

Caroline Steinberg said...

The art looks really cool, and the donuts looked yummy.

Ayanna said...

How fun! I love trying new restaurants and new recipes. I recently started taking kick boxing classes for the first time and love it.

Rach said...

Your donuts look awesome! Well done! I've never heard of batik designs, but they look so pretty! :)

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

How fun!

I loved learning about batiks and the design process when we were there. It was fascinating. I'm glad you took a class on it. And those donuts look amazing! I tried to make apple cider donuts while in Burma.... ha ha! Did not work!

Suzanne said...

MMMMMMM! Homemade donuts! That is like tasting heaven!

bisous
Suzanne

Rebecca said...

Those donuts look so delicious! They're kind of the one treat I've been nervous to try and make, but I definitely want to give it a go now! xx

Rebecca | ceruleanshe.com

Joy Lynn said...

What a fun time with your sisters! I've never heard of batik, but it's stunning - now I want to try it! Also, homemade donuts are the bomb. Last time we made them, we have dozens and they weren't event hat great, so we threw soooo many away :/ but those look way better than ours!

Unknown said...

Wow! Those donuts look amazing! I'm like drooling all over my keyboard. Also, that batik thing...pretty cool.

Dunno that I've done anything new and exciting lately... Recently discovered that I can grow basil (from seeds!) on my windowsill, so I guess that's something. Fresh basil...nom nom nom.

Carolann Chambers said...

This post made me smile! I love trying new things. I've been making a lot of new recipes lately. I bought an Israeli cookbook and made a roasted chicken with homemade Harissa sauce. One of my friends was leaving Hawaii, so she took me on a long hike that I had never done before. And I was just talking to my friend today about signing up for a self-defense class. I think it would be fun and also good to know!

Sarena @ Teal Inspiration said...

This is so beautiful! Both the paintings and the donuts. Beautiful post.

jenn said...

the last time i did anything with batiking was in art class in high school. i should looking into a class here. that sounds like fun. and the pattern you made is SO pretty. i had a look at your instagram post. i love your use of color.

Jenny Evans said...

Did you notice that Rebekah's pose in the first picture is like, the exact same as your welcome picture in your sidebar? Talk about a family resemblance!

StephTheBookworm said...

I love that you tried new things. I need to do more of that myself! Homemade donuts?! Yum!

Kristen @ See You In A Porridge said...

oh man, i can't think of the last thing i did that was new, you know? i'm really bad about stuff like that! i am horrible about being precise with recipes so if i tried to make doughnuts it would probably be a huge fail but man those look amazing! seriously, definitely legit.