A Busy Mom's Blog

DIY Bookcase Marketplace- IKEA Hack

2013-12-29T10:29:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! I hope you and your family had a great time together. We hosted Christmas this year for the first time for about 20 of our close family members. Besides ruining half of the turkey, it went great. My usual over the top planning has left us eating leftovers all week- but isn't that the bonus of hosting a holiday?

As I'm sure most of you did, when planning for Christmas this year, we were trying to get the kids great gifts on a tight budget. I was determined to find the girls a cute marketplace for the playroom. They love to shop (even though I'm not a big fan of them coming with me) and I thought it would be a great way to keep their playfood out where they can see it and play with it. I spent weeks searching the internet trying to find a cute DIY marketplace for the girls to no avail. There were a few cute projects out there, but as always with the cutest DIY projects, they always start with a one of a kind cheap furniture find at a resale shop. I was not willing to go out and pay $100 for a nice armoire to model another fellow blogger because of how awesome her market place was.

So, after a couple weeks of unfruitful trips to local resale shops, I looked at what I had. I happened to have an empty white IKEA bookcase from my office of the job I just left. With a little paint, glitter, fabric on the bookcase backing and some wooden rectangles found at Hobby Lobby- my marketplace was born! You know how sometimes a project in your head doesn't always translate once you've started it? This was not like that. It's not very often that I can say, "that is exactly what I wanted to do." I'm extremely happy with it.

Now, since the bulk of the project happened on Christmas Eve after 10:00pm... There are no project pictures. However, this is a very simple. straight-forward project. If you have any questions, please let me know.

One tip- painting laminate furniture isn't always very durable. The paint can scratch easily if you don't do it right. There are dozens of blogs that explain how to do it. I'm still figuring it out. For this project, I did several coats of spray acrylic sealer over the paint. Hopefully that will do the trick!

Here are a few pics of the project:

Of course, everything needs to have our signature "E" on it

Two very happy girls on Christmas morning

Turkey Hair Clip

2013-11-08T07:04:00.000-06:00

I love Thanksgiving! Its so nice to be able to relax with family and not have to worry about presents and shopping like you do with Christmas. It's also one of the few times I get to see my mom's side of the family. My Aunt Margie has hosted Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember. She has an amazing spread every year. I'm actually dreading the time when I may have to take over this tradition because it will never come close to her Thanksgiving.

Here is the turkey bow I actually made last Thanksgiving for the girls. I think it turned out super cute and was done in less than twenty minutes.

Turkey Hair Bow...what you'll need

Small piece of tan felt
2 google eyes
small corner of orange felt
Skinny red ribbon for gobble
Several different ribbons of varying designs and widths
glue gun
3" skinny ribbon for the bow
hair clip

Cut out the head of the turkey. I drew it on a piece of paper and then cut the felt to size.

Cut a second circle that is slightly smaller than the head.

Cut the orange felt for the beak. Cut a 1/2" of skinny red ribbon.

Cut ribbons at varying lengths for the turkey feathers and glue to the smaller circle with the ribbons facing up.

Glue the larger circle on top of the ribbons.

Glue face on the turkey. Tie bow and place on the top of the turkey.

Glue on hair clip.

Its Been a While

2013-11-08T07:02:00.002-06:00

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to post a quick note to let you know that since moving, my husband and I have had to cut expenses and internet was a big one, so I haven't had the opportunity to post in a while. I have been blessed new job last month, and with that jump in my salary, we should be able to bring it back up again this month. I have lots of posts ready to go out when that time comes.

Thank you all for continuing to visit my blog. I am so happy to share my creativity with others.

Sandie

Chevron Strip Quilt DIY

2013-07-10T07:01:00.000-05:00

One of my friends is having a baby girl next month and her baby shower was last weekend. I was so excited for the opportunity to make another baby blanket. I get ridiculously excited to come up with a new design for a blanket. Plus, I love the look of strip quilts. In addition to being much easier than a traditional block quilt, I think they have a very modern look.

I have been making quilts since college. I think my first quilt attempt was for my boyfriend, Jim for Christmas 1999. I know, a big undertaking right before the world was supposed to end for Y2K, right? Anyway, in the last 14 years, I've made dozens of quilts in varying shapes and sizes and I've never been able to do the binding right until now. I found this blog post by Red Pepper Quilts that does a fantastic job explaining how to perfectly machine quilt binding. It worked perfectly. I highly recommend it.

Here is my original strip quilt tutorial if you'd like to make one for yourself. I'm currently working on a fairy quilt for Elsie and a football field quilt for Logan...so I'll have a few more ideas to share this summer.

Non-slip Adjustable Headband DIY

2013-07-08T16:50:00.000-05:00

This is a great 15 minute project that is very useful. Its so hard to find a good headband to work out in. My hair is very thick and curly, so not any headband will work. I always have issues with headbands either slipping or giving me a headache if they're too tight. These headbands are great because the velvet ribbon keeps it from slipping and the adjustable feature helps it sit perfectly on your head without being too tight.

The velvet ribbon was a little tricky for me to find, but I was able to get a 2 1/2 inch spool and cut it down to size. I actually think that was more cost effective than finding a5/8 spool.

Not into making your own? Visit my etsy shop to purchase one. I'm currently building up my inventory, but I have a few ones made to sell. Looking for a specific color? Email me and I can make one for you.

Non-Slip Adjustable Headband

Supplies:

20" length of 5/8" ribbon- cut into 3 pieces- 18" & (2) 1"
7" length of 1/2" width elastic- cut into 2- 2" & 5"
18" length of 5/8 width velvet ribbon
1 set lingerie strap slide & ring
Coordinating Thread

1. Place the two ribbons wrong sides together (velvet facing out) and stitch down each side, leaving the ends open. Be sure to go slow. Since you're top-stitching, you want to make sure that it looks neat.

2. Take the 2" length of elastic and fold it in half. Place the lingerie ring in the elastic and place the two ends of the elastic into one end of the ribbon. Pin into place. Stitch elastic using a zig-zag or elastic stitch. I went back and forth several times to make sure it was secure.

3. Take the 5" length of elastic and the lingerie slide. Loop the elastic around the center of the slide and stitch the end in place.

Bring the other end of the elastic through ring that was sewn on the band and through the slide. Place in the remaining end of the two ribbons. Stitch into place.

4. Take the two 1" pieces of ribbon and singe the ends. Wrap around the end of the of the ribbons to cover and top stitch.

Monster Smash Cake

2013-07-03T15:25:00.001-05:00

Hello again!

My life has changed quite a bit since I last posted. We moved closer to my work. Clinton changed jobs and shifts; he now works evenings. These two events have sent my life into chaos. I love that I'm closer to work and family but I desperately miss my friends back in Ottawa. I have great neighbors here and there are plenty of kids for my girls to play with, but with Clinton working nights, I've basically had to learn to be a single mom. Grocery shopping, housework, yard work and hobbies have had to take a backseat to being the sole person responsible for my babies from 5 until about 10:30 when I can eventually get Elsie to sleep. I realize that I don't have it as hard as a single mom, but wow, I can really appreciate how difficult it would be not to have those two days where I actually get to see my husband and count on him for support.

BUT...now I'm back. I have managed to get a few projects done and I have a couple in the works. One of my favorite aspects of our new house is my craft room. (Yes, a craft room...be jealous). I haven't had a room devoted to my crafts since before kids and I'm ecstatic that I have one now. I was able to find a large wooden kitchen table on craigslist for $25 that I will be rehabbing in the next few weeks for my sewing table- details to come. I love it!

My little nephew turned 1 in April. He's my little birthday buddy because his birthday is two days before mine. I love that I get to share my special day with him forever :). He had a monster themed birthday party and my sister-in-law asked me to do his smash cake. Having two girls, I love getting opportunities to do "boy" things every once in awhile, so I was happy to do this.

I made a rainbow cake in two round 8 inch pans. Frost the cake with a thin layer of frosting.

For the frosting, I used the 1M tip to pipe the fur all around the cake and plate. To do this, hold the pastry bag at a 90 degree angle with the tip touching the cake and squeeze so that the frosting spills out the tip and pull up while releasing the squeeze to create the point. It took 3 cans of frosting to create this look on a two layer cake.

For the eyes and teeth, I used marshmallows. I cut the marshmallows in three pieces, so that i had three circles. The two outside circles were used for the eyes. I used melted black chocolate for the pupils. I placed eyes all the way around the cake.

For the teeth, I cut the center piece of the marshmallow into a triangle and dipped it in granulated sugar. This took the stickiness away from the marshmallow and made it sparkle.

For the smile, I drew several mouths on wax paper in melted chocolate to ensure that I got a perfect mouth.

Here is a tip for filling the pastry bag: Place the bag in a cup and pull the ends of the bag over the top of a cup. Its much easier to fill that way. No need to purchase one of those bag filling stands!

And now you have an easy and adorable monster cake!

Porcupine Meatballs with Gravy

2013-03-17T18:59:00.002-05:00

What a month... about four weeks ago, I decided I have had enough of my long commute to work. I recently took over a new programming area in a new community center and along with these new responsibilities has come longer hours. As a result, I am exhausted and I never see my family.

So, we are moving to Oswego, Illinois. Our new house is 9.87 miles from my work- I am going from 110 miles a day to under 20! I cannot wait. This whirlwind of events has caused my projects and my blog to take a backseat. I promise I will resume shortly- in fact, I'm in the middle of a project for our new home and will share it once we're settled around the first week of April.

For now, I'd like to share one of my favorite meals from my childhood- porcupine meatballs with gravy. I recently started making these for my family. I forgot how delicious and budget-friendly this recipe is. With just a box of Rice-a-Roni, a pound of beef and an egg, you have a great dinner for the family. And if you have a young family like mine, you'll have plenty of left-overs. This pairs perfectly with my Garlic Mashed Potatoes recipe.

Here is the recipe...

Porcupine Meatballs in Gravy

1 Lb Ground beef
1 Box Beef Rice-a-Roni
1 egg, beaten
2 1/2 C water
2 Tbsp Cornstarch mixed with 3 tbsp water

Preheat oven to 350.

Remove beef mix packet from Rice-a-Roni box. Add the remainder of the box to a bowl with the beef and egg. Mix thoroughly with your hand.

Shape into 1" meatballs and place on a baking sheet with sides. Bake for 30 minutes.

About 5 minutes before the the meatballs are done, add water to a large skillet and bring to a boil. Whisk in seasoning packet. Reduce heat to a simmer.

Add meatballs to the skillet. Cover and simmer for 30 minutes.

Remove meatballs. Add cornstarch mixture to the liquid in the skillet. Whisk until thickened.

Enjoy!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2013-02-25T19:58:00.002-06:00

I never had a boxed mashed potato in my life until I got to college. My mom always made real mashed potatoes and I never appreciated it until I became an adult. Boy, are they a pain to make! But totally worth it.

Here is a great Garlic Mashed Potato recipe your family will love!

Garlic Mashed Potatoes

2.5 pounds of Idaho Potatoes
6-10 cloves of garlic- to your liking
1/2 C milk
1/4 C melted butter
salt to taste

Fill a large stock pot with an inch of water and bring to a boil. While the water is heating up- wash, peel and dice the potatoes. Peel the garlic.

When water is boiling, place the potatoes and garlic in the water. Reduce heat and cover. Cook for 20-25 minutes- until potatoes are tender.

Drain potatoes & garlic and place in a mixer with a whip attachment. Add milk and butter- whip until smooth. Add salt.

Enjoy!

Roasted Asparagus

2013-02-21T20:34:00.000-06:00

Asparagus is one of my favorite vegetables. It tastes great and is easy to prepare. If you haven't tried roasting it, be sure to do it with your next batch of asparagus. It's crispy and packed with deliciousness.

Here is the recipe...

Roasted Asparagus

1 lb Asparagus
3 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
3 Tbsp parmesean cheese
3 garlic cloves- pressed or diced
Sea Salt to taste

Preheat your oven to 425.

Trim off the bottoms of the Asparagus and place in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining ingredients and toss to coat.

Place in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

A Hello Kitty Themed Birthday Party

2013-02-18T15:31:00.004-06:00

The Hello Kitty company has genius marketing executives. Never have I seen something that isn't linked to a cartoon or movie be so popular. I suppose when you manufacture pink & sparkly items, you will sell anything.

My girls are enamored with Hello Kitty. They want everything they see with this little feline on it. So, it was fitting that we did a Hello Kitty theme for Evelyn's second birthday party. Since we had her party at a jump house place, we didn't get to decorate- however, I did come up with plenty of ways to keep myself busy in the week before the party.

Here are the pics...I hope it helps inspire you for your own little Hello Kitty affair!
The Invitations...

I used the bow from a Minnie Mouse option on my Mickey & Friends Cricut cartridge. My mom made this into a birthday card a few years ago and used a butterfly punch.

The Dresses...

Here are the peasant dresses I made for the occasion. You can view the tutorial here. I had issues getting good pics of the girls in the dresses. I hope to get a few new ones on here soon.

The Goodie Bags...

The treats...

I made cake pops for the goodie bags. To make this a hello kitty pop, I used pink chocolate and made a bow out of two heart candies- these are in abundance since we're so close to Valentine's Day.

These are my butter cookies. I just cut them into circles and added a bow and whiskers. I thought about purchasing a Hello Kitty cookie cutter, but decided I liked this idea better.

Here are my other additions to the goodie bags...not hello kitty themed, but yummy & festive!

More cake pops...who doesn't love these?

Marshmallow Sundae Pops..click here for the tutorial

The plates...

Just a plain white plate with the same bow from the invites.

The Birthday Girl...

Happy second birthday to my beautiful baby girl!

A Toddler Peasant Dress Tutorial

2013-02-17T20:28:00.002-06:00

I'm in love with sewing. I have no time, but I try to make time for this hobby. My only problem is that my project to-do list is ten times longer than I could possibly complete in the short time I have. These dresses were for Evelyn's second birthday party. I wanted to create a cute, 3/4 sleeve dress for the girls to wear.

My friends don't believe me, but I'm a very amateur seamstress. I don't know how to follow a commercial pattern, so blog tutorials are my saviors. There are so many blogs out there that detail almost any project in layman terms. With these tutorials, I don't need to figure out all the jargon on the pattern... I just cut my fabric and sew according to the pictures and easy directions. I think that once pattern companies figure this out, it will open a door to all of us amateur seamstresses to be able to really put together some fun projects.

I suppose my one redeeming quality is that once I do something one time, I usually figure out how I can change it to create what I want. This dress is basically my Valentine's Pillowcase Dress with sleeves. The best thing about this dress is that I already had the fabric cut out from the extra fabric squares I had from my cloth napkins from my sister's bridal shower.

Here is how I did it...

Supplies for a 4T dress. Adjust your size accordingly

1 yard of fabric- I used three different coordinating fabrics to make up this yard.

1/4" elastic about 30"

coordinating thread

safety pin

rotary cutter and cutting mat

Step 1: Cutting the body of the dress

Take your fabric and cut a rectangle 19" long by the width of the fabric (approx 42"). Now cut in half so you have two rectangles that measure 21 x 19.

Place fabric on top of one another and fold in half. Place onto a cutting mat and line up the fold with the edge of the mat.

Cut on a diagonal starting at 6" at the top and ending at 10 on the bottom. You now have two pieces of fabric that are the shape of a trapezoid.

Cut the arm holes with the fabric still folded. Start 6" down from the top and cut in about 2.5 inches- rounding the corner as you cut up to the neckline. The Cut should look like a backwards J.

2. Cutting the arms for the dress

Cut two rectangles 14 "x 10"

Fold in half and place fabric under the dress on the cutting mat with the fold towards the center of the dress and the raw edge lined up with the outside of the dress. Cut the arm holes by running your rotary cutter along the backwards J that you already cut into the dress.

3. Shaping the arms

Cut 2 pieces of elastic 7" long for the elastic elbows of the dress. Measure where you'd like the elastic to go. I measured Elsie from her shoulder to her elbow and placed it there. It was 9" from the top.

Using a zig zag or elastic stitch, sew the elastic to the fabric, pulling the fabric as you sew. I like to put a pin at the mid-point of the elastic & the mi-point of the fabric, so I know that I'm on target to not over or under stretch the elastic.

Once you have the elastic sewn, finish the ends of the sleeves by folding over twice and top stitching.

4. Adding Pockets

I love adding pockets to dresses. This is probably Elsie's favorite part of the dress. If you don't want to add pockets, skip this step.

First cut out your pocket fabric by hold the dress wearer's hand and cutting 2 inches around the hand. Make sure you double up the fabric and have it right sides facing each other so you are cutting both pieces of the pocket at once. I cut my pockets a little small, as you can see by the picture. It made for small pockets.

Pin the pocket where you'd like it to go and sew a 1/4 inch seam with the right side of the pocket to the right side of the dress. Finish the seams by using a zig zag stitch.

Do this to all four pieces of the pocket. Be careful to place the pockets at the same place on each side of both dress pieces so the pockets line up and the dress is symmetrical.

5. Assembling the dress

Line up the arm hole to the arm hole of one of the dress pieces. Sew a 1/2 inch seam. Finish the seams by zig zag stitching the edge. Repeat on the opposite side of the dress. Next sew the second dress piece to the arms. It now is starting to look like a dress.

If you want to add any applique or embroidery, do it at this point.

Turn the dress inside out. Start at the end of the sleeves and start pining the seam down the arms and the side of the dress making sure that all the seams line up. Pin the pockets so that the two pockets line up.

Starting at the end of the sleeve, sew a 1/2" seam up the arm and continue down the side of the dress.

For the pockets: Sew down the side of the dress until you hit the pocket. Sew 1/2" into the pocket and pivot the dress to sew around the edge of the pocket until you get to the dress again; pivot and continue sewing down the side of the dress. Finish the seam by using a zig zag stitch along the edge.

Do the same for the other side of the dress.

Hem the bottom of the dress at this time.

6. The neckline

Fold the dress in half ad make the neckline straight but cutting along the top of the dress.

Turn the dress inside out and fold over the neckline about a 1/4" and press. Then Fold over about 1/2" and press again.

Top stitch along the bottom of the fold, leaving about a half inch opening.

Take 14" of elastic and attach a safety pin to the end. Feed through the casing you just sewed. Once through, sew the elastic together and finish sewing the opening.

Add a size tag if desired. I just used my machine's embroidery stitches on a 1" wide white satin ribbon.

And now you have an adorable peasant dress fit for a birthday princess!

Sundae Marshmallow Pops

2013-02-14T19:21:00.002-06:00

We had Evelyn's second birthday party this weekend, so I've been very busy working on birthday things. We had her party at a jump house place, which should have made it an easy party...Not when I'm involved. I feel that I'm in competition with myself for every party I throw. I kept getting different ideas for the goodie bags and the cupcakes and thier outfits- are you exhausted thinking about it all? I certainly was.

Anyway, I made these simple, but delicious marshmallow pops for her goodie bags. These would be perfect for your Valentine!

Sundae Marshmallow Pops

35 marshmallows
1/2 container of Smuckers Carmel Sauce
Chocolate Almond Bark
Sundae Topping peanuts
35 lollipop sticks

Melt a brick of the almond bark according to the package. Dip the end of the lollipop stick into the chocolate and insert into the marshmallow.

Pour caramel sauce into a bowl and coat each marshmallow in the caramel. Place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Place in freezer for 15 minutes. You need to work quickly during this step so the caramel doesn't come off of the marshmallow. I did 10 at a time and placed them in the freezer.

Melt remainder of the almond bark according to the directions. Coat frozen marshmallows with melted chocolate and sprinkle with nuts immediately. Place back on wax paper and put in freezer to harden.

Enjoy!

Super Bowl Party Food Recipes

2013-01-27T12:07:00.001-06:00

I love watching the Super Bowl- mainly for the commercials, but also for the food that comes with it. Whether we're at a big party or just with our friends, Emily & Jay, the food is always amazing. The timing is always bad, since it's right after all of us resolve to eat healthy and loose a few pounds, but what is one day of finger foods, dips and beer?- Hmmm...maybe that thinking is part of my problem of never completing my resolutions.

Here are a few of my favorite game day recipes that are sure to feed a hungry crowd!

Glazed Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

Chili Cheese Dip

Easy Bruschetta with Fresh Mozzarella

Easy Crock Pot Chili

And for dessert...

Oreo Cream Filled Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Sweet & Salty Oreo Brownies

And here is a craft to make in your team's colors...

DIY Beverage Koozie

And, I hope to be dressed like this for next year's Super Bowl... Go Bears!

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

2013-01-24T13:02:00.002-06:00

Its freezing here in Chicago. I love winter. I was married in the winter and we did outdoor pictures- 17 degrees, my bridesmaids weren't thrilled, but the pictures were beautiful. The best part about winter in Chicago, is staying in and enjoying a warm bowl of soup- even better if it's homemade soup.

This potato soup is easy, quick and tastes amazing. Perfect for a snowy, frigid evening!

Here is the recipe:

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 diced onion
5 garlic cloves- minced or pressed
1/4 C flour
60 oz chicken stock- canned or use this recipe for great tasting homemade stock
1 (16)oz container heavy cream
3 lbs potatoes- peeled and diced small
2 C shredded cheddar cheese
6 pieces crisp cooked bacon
3 green onions- diced
salt & pepper to taste

Saute onion and garlic in a large stock pot until translucent- about 7-8 minutes. Add flour and mix to coat- cook for about a minute. Pour in stock and bring to a boil- add potatoes and cream. Continue to boil on medium heat for 20 minutes until the potatoes are soft.

Add cheese, crumbled bacon and green onions. Stir until combined. Add salt and pepper to taste.

Enjoy with your favorite grilled cheese sandwich!

Peppermint Mocha Cake Balls

2013-01-22T20:50:00.002-06:00

Bakerella is my hero. She is the author of the first blog I ever read and followed. I am unsure if she invented cake balls, but she certainly made them popular and shared them with the world- and we owe a debt of gratitude to her for sharing this amazing addition to the truffle community.

This recipe is one of the many cake balls I made for Christmas. It blends my two favorite flavors: chocolate and peppermint. This technique can be made into any combination of cake balls you'd like. One of my favorite cake ball combos is butter pecan cake with Duncan Hines Rainbow Chip frosting...yum! See Bakerella's website for a million other fabulous combinations. Once you make them a few times, you'll learn what works best for you.

Peppermint Mocha Cake Balls

Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
3 eggs
1/2 C Melted Butter
1 C water
1/4 C cooled brewed coffee
1/3 C mini chocolate chips

2/3 container of peppermint frosting - or vanilla depending on how much peppermint you like
1/3 C Andees Peppermint Chips
1 bag Wilton melting chocolate
2 tbsp shortening
sprinkles or crushed candy canes to garnish

Combine cake mix, eggs, butter, water and coffee in a stand mixer. Mix on medium speed for 2 minutes. Add mini chocolate chips and stir until combined. Bake as directed on package.

Once cake has cooled, place cake in your stand mixer and add 2/3 container of frosting. Mix until thoroughly combined. Mix in Andees Peppermint Chips. Place mixture in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

Roll cake and frosting mixture into one inch balls and place on a wax paper lined cookie sheet. Freeze for 15 minutes.

While cake balls are in the freezer, melt chocolate. Add shortening to the chocolate to thin it out. You want it to be the consistency of salad dressing.

Using a toothpick, fork, spoon or any other item you find works- dip the balls into the chocolate. Place on wax paper and add sprinkles immediately after dipping.

Once all the cake balls are dipped and the chocolate has hardened, store in an airtight container in the freezer. I've had cake balls in my freezer for 3 months and they still taste great.

Hope you enjoy them!

Stuffed Jalapeno Panini

2013-01-22T18:30:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite appetizers is stuffed jalapenos. I haven't had them in a long time and when I saw this pin, it made me drool. So... I looked at the recipe and figured out how to make it mine with a few little tweaks. Either recipe you go with, is sure to be a hit!

Here is the recipe...
Stuffed Jalapeno Panini

4 pieces of crusty bread
butter
1 jalapeno-finely diced
2 tbsp cream cheese
1 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese
2 slices of bacon
2 slices of Sargento Mozzarella- Cheddar cheese
7-8 tortilla chips- depending on the size of your sandwich

Butter one side of each piece of bread. In a small bowl, combine diced jalapenos, cream cheese and shredded cheddar cheese. Spread cream cheese mixture on two slices of bread, top with one slice of cheese. Place one slice of cheese on the other two slices and top with bacon and tortilla chips. Place the cream cheese bread onto the slice with bacon on a griddle pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on one side with a pan lid over the sandwiches to ensure the middle cooks through. Flip and cook for about 2 minutes on opposite side.

Enjoy with your favorite bowl of soup.

Valentines' Day Picture Frame Wreath DIY

2013-01-21T11:47:00.001-06:00

Valentines' Day is a month away. I've never been big on celebrating Valentines' Day-however, I always accept the awesome box of chocolate my husband likes to give me- but now that my girls are a little older, it's fun to decorate for the holiday to encourage their excitement. Although, let's face it-any holiday that I get to decorate in pink, is my fave. I wonder if I can spin Fourth of July into a pink decoration- we'll see.

Anyway, you may recognize the wreath above from an earlier post. This is the wreath I did for Christmas last year. I love it so much that I was sad to take it down, so I decided to make it interchangeable. I removed the ornaments, ribbon and the G and added some heart garland, beads and new ribbon to make it new. I'm so excited to be able to keep this on my door for 3 months instead of 5 weeks! I wonder if I can convert it to St. Patty's Day- any suggestions?

Here is how I did it...
Supplies:
Large Old Picture Frame- painted in desired color
beads- beaded trim, bead garland and mardi gras beads
felt- pink and red
ribbon- thin for the garland and thick to hang
Sewing machine and coordinating thread
hot glue gun

Inspired by this pin, I made the heart garland for the wreath. To make the heart garland, Cut felt so you have two 3 x 8 pieces. Stack and sew along one long side.

Bring opposite ends around so that the side you just sewed is in the middle and it takes the shape of a heart.

Sew along the ends to close the heart.

Cut in 3/4 inch sections.

Take a length of thin ribbon and a needle with a large eye and string the garland. You need to bring the needle through each side, catching the middle so the heart keeps it's shape on the string.

And you have your garland...

As for the rest of the wreath, I just strung the beads across the back and used hot glue and tacks to help secure them in place.

I also added this heart that I did with an applique pattern on my embroidery machine.

I placed a hook on the opposite side of the door to hold the wreath in place.

I hope this inspires you to do your own Valentine's Day Decor!

Chicken Enchilada Crescent Bake

2013-01-09T10:50:00.001-06:00

I love Mexican food. The spices mixed in with the tomatoes, peppers and meat create an amazing combination. I've found that whether its in pasta, tortillas or now, crescent rolls, its always amazing.

I came up with this recipe after I made a similar recipe with just chicken, cheese and cream of chicken soup. This is a quick and easy dinner that can be made during the week that is also healthy.

Here is the recipe:

Chicken Enchilada Crescent Bake

2 chicken breasts- cooked and shredded

15 oz can petite tomatoes- undrained

15oz can black beans- undrained

4oz can chopped green chillies- undrained

1 C salsa

1 packet burrito seasoning

2 pkgs reduced fat crescent rolls

1 C reduced fat cheese

15 oz can enchilada sauce

Add chicken, tomatoes, beans, chilies salsa and seasoning to a pan and bring to a boil. Simmer 5-10 minutes until liquid is reduced.

Preheat oven to 375. In a 9x15 baking dish, place crescents with flat sides to the middle and pointing out. Press seams with fingers. If you have a small rolling pin, use this to press seams and flatten crescent rolls.

Place chicken mixture in the center of the crescent rolls. You may have some extra chicken mixture...I saved mine to eat on lettuce for lunch. Top with cheese.

Wrap with ends of crescent rolls by bringing the points to the center and overlapping with each other. Fold up the ends to ensure all the filling stays in the crescents.

Pour enchilada sauce over the crescent rolls.

Bake for 25 minutes until crescents are done. Serve with sour cream.

Valentine's Pillow Case Dress with Ruffles Tutorial

2013-01-07T12:31:00.002-06:00

There are some things I love about pillow case dresses and some things I hate. I love the neckline. This part of the dress is really easy to make and I think it looks really cute on. What I hate is how boxy they look. Just because they're cute little girls, doesn't mean that all of the sudden straight and boxy is cute.

So, i decided to create an A-line pillowcase dress that is lined with ruffles on the bottom. I also took this opportunity to learn how to applique with an embroidery machine- much easier than it looks! This dress was much more time consuming than a normal pillowcase dress, but I think it turned out 1000 x's cuter! Now that I made this one for Elsie, I will make a few alterations to Evelyn's- namely adding pockets and I don't think I'll attach the outer dress to the lining on the sides, just under the arms and at the neckline.

When Elsie saw it, she said, " Mommy, it's so beautiful, I'm going to cry!" With rave reviews like that, how can I not keep making her more dresses?

Here is what you'll need...

A-line Pillow Case Dress

These measurements are based on a 4T child with measurements of a 21" chest & waist and a length of 17.5 from shoulder to jut above the knee.

Outer Dress fabric- 3/4 yd
Lining- 1/2 yard
ruffle & bow- 1/2 yard
coordinating thread
Double Fold bias tape in coordinating color-about 16 inches

Step 1: cutting fabric

Make the following cuts:

Ruffle- cut two: 5" x 42"
Tie- 2.5" x 40"

Lining- top is 12", bottom is 20" with a length of 17"- cut 2
Outer dress- top is 12", bottom is 20" with a length of 19.5- cut 2

The lining and the outer dress fabric are cut on an angle to create the A-line silhouette.

Take your half yard for the lining and cut it into two rectangles.

Fold the fabric in half and cut to the appropriate length. Make sure your fold is straight on your cutting mat. Trim fabric so that it is the width of the bottom of your dress.

At the top of the fabric start at 1/2 your neckline width (as you can see, mine was 6"), using a straight edge, cut on a diagonal until you hit the bottom corner.

When you unfold your fabric, it should look like a trapezoid.

Lay one of your lining pieces over your dress piece. Fold in half and cut the arm holes.

This needed to be free handed a bit. I measured Elsie by holding the tape measure at the seam under her arm of the shirt she was wearing and up to the seam on her shoulder and I added two inches to make up for the fold that will encase the tie at the neck.

So, I went in 2.5" and up 6"

Unfold the dress and trim the access fabric so they are flush with each other.

Do this for the second piece.

Cut the ruffles and ties out of your third coordinating fabric.

Step 2: finishing edges

Finish the edges on the ruffles and the bottom & neck line of the lining and dress. I used my rolled hem foot, but you can just fold over the edges twice and sew.

Step 3: make and attach ruffle

Make the ruffle by sewing the top of each of the strips you cut for the ruffle with a gathering stitch. - Adjust your stitch length and tension as high as they will go and let the fabric gather as you sew.

Pin ruffles to the bottom of the linings. Sew to the lining.

Step 4: Hem dress
Place lining under the outer dress panel and pin where it should be hemmed I wanted about 2.5 inches of the ruffle showing, so I hemmed about an inch.

If you want to add any embellishments to the outside of the dress, do it at this step.

Step 5: Attaching outer panel to the lining

Pin outer panel to the lining.

Sew the top of the two panels together.

Pin the bias tape around the arm holes. Sew along the bias tape and down the outer edges of the dress.

Fold down the top of the dress one inch. Sew to create a pocket.

Do this for the other panels- so you now have two complete panels.

Step 6: Completing the dress

Pin the two panels together right sides together and sew from the bottom to under the arms, where the bias tape meets. Make sure that the outer dress panels end at the same point on the dress on each side.

Sew the ends of the piece of fabric that was cut for the tie- right sides together. Turn right side out and top stitch around to seal off the ends.

Weave the tie through the neckline and gather.

And you now have an adorable A-line pillowcase dress.

Grandma's Red Velvet Cake

2013-01-04T16:26:00.000-06:00

Every year, my in-law's neighborhood has a bake auction the weekend before Christmas to fund their block party that occurs in June. Since college, I have been making cakes for them to take to the auction. Its my personal goal to out-do the last year's cake because it's usually one of the best sellers. This year, I made a red velvet cake with shortening icing.

This was always my favorite cake growing up. The frosting is what makes the cake for me, but the red velvet cake is delicious. As a kid, I always loved having red velvet for my birthday because it was unique.- no boring vanilla, chocolate or fun-fetti for this girl!

My mom always complained that it was a difficult cake to make, so even as an adult, I've always shied away from making it. Now that I've been making cakes and frosting from scratch for a few years, I've come to realize that sometimes people describe a recipe as difficult if it takes a little more time. This cake is a little time consuming, but aren't all great things in life?

If you've never had red velvet cake, I challenge you to make it with the shortening icing for your next event. You won't be sorry!

Red Velvet Cake

1tsp vinegar
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 C shortening
1 1/2 C granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp cocoa
2 oz red food coloring (I use the small red McCormick bottles)
1 C buttermilk
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
2 1/2 C Cake Flour

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix vinegar, vanilla and baking soda in a small cup and let stand.

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs.

Make a paste of the cocoa and small amount of red food coloring. Add to the creamed mixture. Add remaining food coloring. Add buttermilk, salt and baking powder. Mix thoroughly. Gradually add flour and mix thoroughly between additions.

Stir the vinegar, vanilla, baking soda mixture well and add to the cake mixture. Mix well.

Pour into two 8 inch pans and bake for 30 minutes.

No Boil Lasagna with Fresh Baby Spinach

2013-01-02T11:27:00.000-06:00

Lasagna is one of my favorite comfort foods. Thanks to my friend Emily, its gotten a little better & healthier. She suggested adding fresh baby spinach to my lasagna and I'm glad I did. It was amazing. I thought it would be weird because I usually use sauteed spinach and the texture would be different, but it wasn't.

This recipe is lower fat than a traditional lasagna recipe, but it's packed with flavor. Try it, you won't be disappointed!

No Boil Lasagna with Fresh Baby Spinach

About 1/2 recipe of my slow cooker pasta sauce or 2 jars of store bought sauce
8 oz fat free cottage cheese
8 oz ricotta made from skim milk
1/2 C Parmesan cheese
1 C shredded mozzarella
1C water
1 beaten egg
2 C fresh baby spinach
8 slices mozzarella cheese
12 lasagna noodles-uncooked

Heat oven to 375. Combine cottage cheese, ricotta, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella, water and egg in a small bowl.

Ladle one cup of pasta sauce into 10x13 pan. Place four lasagna noodles on the sauce. I usually have three horizontal and one vertical at the bottom of the pan. Spread half the cheese mixture over the noodles. Place one cup baby spinach over cheese and ladle two cups of sauce.

Repeat layer and end with noodles on top. Top with sauce. Tightly cover pan with foil and bake for 45 minutes. Take off foil, top with mozzarella cheese slices and bake for 15 more minutes. If desired, place under a broiler for two minutes to brown cheese.

Let sit for 15-20 minutes. This step is important... it will be watery if you don't let it set-up.

Enjoy!

Sweet & Salty Oreo Brownies

2013-01-01T09:06:00.001-06:00

Happy New Year!

This is a post that will be sure to blow your new year's resolutions out of the water.

This dessert was the clear winner at my husband's family's holiday dinners this year. I was inspired by this recipe by the Picky Palate. It was a little too sweet for me, so I altered it a little and produced this gooey- salty Oreo perfection.

Bring this to your next family gathering and you'll be the most popular person there... Here is the recipe.

Sweet & Salty Oreo Brownies

1 Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
1 Stick melted butter
1 egg
1 C mini chocolate chips
1/2 bag Oreo Cookies- coarsely crushed
1 C crushed pretzles
1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk

Preheat oven to 350.

Mix cake mix, butter and egg- batter will be thick. Press into a 9x13 pan. Sprinkle mini chocolate chips onto batter.

Top with Oreos & pretzles. Pour sweetened condensed milk over entire pan.

Bake for 25-28 minutes.

Enjoy!

DIY Magnetic Dry Erase Weekly Menu Planner

2012-12-30T15:40:00.001-06:00

I try to keep my life organized but the craziness usually takes over and I succumb to the chaos that is around me. The one thing that I am consistent about is menu planning. If I don't write down my menu before I shop, I spend too much and often come home with boxed dinners that are easy, but not very healthy.

I've had a menu planner I made about six months ago that I wrote the meals down on strips of paper and clipped them to cute little paper clips on the side. It was cute, but not very practical. I needed something dry erase to limit waste and a place to write a shopping list of things I run out of during the week.

So I came up with this little dry erase calendar. It cost me about $2 in materials. If you have a spare frame, scrapbook paper and a printer, you can have your own dry erase menu in about 10 minutes. I have ten spaces for dinners, but adjust to your family's needs. Usually, I plan in a few nights of left overs or eating out.

Here is how I did it...

Dry Erase Frame

Supplies:

8 x 10 frame
Scrapbook paper- three coordinating pieces
"Menu" & "shopping list" printed from your computer
Spare magnets
Super Glue
Scrapbook adhesive
Paper Cutter

Cut your paper in the following pieces:

main piece- 8 x 10"
Coordinating background boarder- 2.5 x 8"
Menu spaces: 1/2 x 3 inches- 10 of these

Cut your printed pieces to your desired size and mat with one of your coordinating papers

Adhere all the pieces to the background paper how you desire.

Super Glue the magnets to the back of the frame.

And now you have a great menu planner that is eco-friendly, super cute and fits to your family's needs.

Cheddar Onion Pierogi

2012-12-30T12:26:00.000-06:00

Pierogi are one of my family's favorite side-dishes. My Uncle Joe has been making them for holidays for as long as I can remember. He lives in Florida, so when he isn't in town, it's up to us to carry on the family tradition. I made these for Christmas Eve dinner this year and they were so delicious that Clinton and I decided to make another batch using the leftover potato from the Christmas Eve pierogi dish. It was great having him help this time because I do not own a pasta machine, which makes rolling out the dough cumbersome. Clinton put a little muscle into it and the dough was perfect!

You can use any mashed potato filling you'd like. I prefer my cheddar onion mashed potatoes in mine. This recipe will make approximately 75 pierogi. Here is the recipe...
Pierogi Dough

6 C flour
1 1/2 C sour cream
3 eggs
3/4 C water (add more if the dough seems dry)

Add all ingredients except water into a kitchen aide mixer with the dough hook. Set on stir to knead dough. Once combined, slowly add water until mixed. If it seems dry, add more water. If it is too wet, add more flour.

If you don't have a mixer, you can place the flour on a counter and add the wet ingredients in the center. Knead with hands until mixed.

Let dough stand for 20 minutes. Prepare potato filling.

Set up your table with the following items: baking dish for pierogi, small bowl of water, potato filling, rolling pin or pasta machine, biscuit cutter or glass with wide mouth. fork, two spoons for potato filling, wax paper.

Using a pasta machine or a rolling pin, roll out dough into a flat sheet approx 1/8" thick.

Cut out circles of dough.

Spoon a teaspoon of potato filling into the center of the circle. Working with your hands, gently pull at the circle to make it large enough to enclose the potato filling. Wet the edge of half of the circle by wetting your finger in the water bowl and running it around the edge of the circle. Squeeze closed.

Using a fork, seal the edges on both sides of the pierogi. Place in baking dish. Do not stack pierogi on top of one another because they will stick.

If you're making them to freeze: Place layers of pierogi between wax sheets. Be sure to place a wax paper sheet on the bottom of the pan or they will stick. Only place three layers of pierogi in the dish and freeze for 2 hours. Place pierogi in gallon freezer bags. When ready to eat, place in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. Pierogi are ready when they float.

Making them immediately: Place pierogi in boiling water and remove when they start to float. Place cooked pierogi into a dish with melted butter & sliced onion along the bottom and between pierogi to avoid sticking together. Again, I wouldn't stack more than three layers in the baking dish.

I recommend freezing and making them fresh if you're making them ahead. You can warm cooked pierogi in the microwave, but freshly boiled is best.

Enjoy with sour cream... or hot sauce, like my husband.

Grandma's Shortening Frosting

2012-12-29T10:08:00.004-06:00

I grew up on my grandma's red velvet cake with shortening frosting. This was the cake we begged for at our birthdays. I love the cake, but the frosting is what did it for me. This frosting is the fluffiest, most unique tasting frosting you'll ever taste. We always had it on red velvet cake, but I think it would be great on any cake. It's a little labor intensive- your mixer will get quite a work out, but it is completely worth it.

Grandma's Shortening Frosting

1 C milk
2 Tbsp corn starch
1/2 C shortening
1 stick butter
1 C granulated sugar

Cook milk and corn starch at medium heat until it thickens- whisking constantly. Let stand 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, beat remaining ingredients at high speed until the sugar dissolves- about 15 minutes.

Add cornstarch mixture to sugar mixture and beat at high speed until combined- 10-15 minutes.