The Tidy Nest

Turning Two

2011-05-09T21:07:00.000-05:00

I have been busy preparing for Drew's second birthday party. There are so many neat ideas for firetruck birthday themes. I can't wait to share some of the fun things I am working on to make Drew's birthday extra special!

Strawberry Season

2011-04-28T13:44:00.000-05:00

Strawberries are in season here in the South and we have been enjoying fresh berries. We eat them with yogurt, in smoothies, and just plain for a snack.

I try to purchase them in a large quantity to save a few dollars. I keep some in the refrigerator to eat fresh and flash freeze the rest for smoothies and milk shakes! Yum!!

I also love to add a couple frozen strawberries to a cold glass of water.

We Love Strawberry Season!

I'm Linking to Things I Love Thursday & Finer Things Friday

Bow Tie

2011-04-25T20:38:00.000-05:00

I hope you had a wonderful Easter!

We had a great day at church Sunday morning and a fun time easter egg hunting at our neighbor's house afterwards. But by late afternoon, Drew had a high fever and was moping around the house.

He still has a fever today, but I think it's related to the two new teeth that are poking through his swollen gums. Poor guy...it looks so painful.

Anyway, for Easter I wanted to make Drew a bow tie to go with the suspenders I found here. I followed the tutorial from A Lemon Squeezy Home found HERE. I made a few alterations to make it fit a little better.

I scaled the pattern pieces from 3"x10" down to 2.5"x9.5" to make an overall smaller bow tie.

The original pattern was a little too big for a toddler.

I also narrowed the center piece from 2.5"x4" to 2"x4". I believe I made the neck piece slightly more narrow, but I don't have the exact measurements.

This was a super easy tutorial to follow and the bow tie turned out really cute!!

{He's wearing the fire hat because it was the easiest way to convince him to wear suspenders. "Firemen always wear suspenders!"}

Have any leftover Easter ham?

We had this yummy soup tonight and used up our ham and even threw in a few leftover mashed potatoes to make it extra creamy.

Hope You Have A Fabulous Week!

Candids

2011-04-20T09:18:00.000-05:00

Always a character!

My little niece...sweet sleep.

Cooling off on a hot afternoon. Summer is here. So much for spring...

Birthday present from my wonderful husband! A perfect cup of coffee every morning.

Wonderful husband who helps wash the dishes and has the patience to let an almost two year old help.

A few seconds of snuggling. It makes long days so much sweeter.

Wordless Wednesday

Pizza Sauce

2011-04-17T22:41:00.000-05:00

We love homemade pizza at our house.

It's a staple on our menu!

I usually make whole wheat pizza dough and use a variety of toppings from what we have on hand.

Here is my simple tried and true pizza sauce recipe that I use on all our pizzas.

{I also use it for calzones and as dipping sauce for homemade breadsticks.}

Here's the recipe...

Pizza Sauce

(printable version)
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon marjoram
½ teaspoon basil
½ teaspoon garlic powder
½ teaspoon sugar

Mix all ingredients and let sit for at least one hour.

This makes the perfect amount for one large pizza!

I'm Linking Up Here

Funnel Cakes

2011-04-04T21:40:00.000-05:00

Since we are already experiencing beautiful summer weather here in the South, I've been trying out some warm weather recipes. Funnel cakes always remind me of a summertime fair and are a great treat on hot summer nights.

Here's the recipe...

Funnel Cakes

(printable version)

Ingredients:

1 egg
¾ cup milk
1 cup flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Oil for frying

Powdered Sugar
Directions:

Heat oil in fryer to 350 degrees. Combine egg and milk in a mixing bowl. In a small bowl mix together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Add dry ingredients to egg mixture. Pour ¼ cup batter into a funnel and swirl in a circular motion into the hot oil. Fry for 1 minute and flip. Continue to fry until golden brown. Sprinkle with powdered sugar while hot.

22 Months: What am I Learning

2011-04-01T09:18:00.000-05:00

I can't believe Drew will be turning two in a little over a month!

He has become so observant and is learning new words everyday. He loves to help and has learned how to put his hat and shoes away and to put his dirty clothes in the laundry room basket. He is always running into the kitchen to get the kitchen towel to "wash" something -- usually the rims of his toy truck or his motorcycle. He likes things clean!

{He is his daddy's son!}

Since he is learning so quickly at this age, I have been trying to spend a few concentrated minutes each day teaching him basic pre-school skills -- colors, numbers, letters. Sometimes we spend 10-15 minutes, other times it's about 2. It is usually very simple and unstructured and quite often it involves a game. There are so many ways to make learning fun, and it is so important to instill a love for learning at a young age.

Here's what we did this week...

I found these little stainless steel condiment cups at the grocery store and put them to good use teaching Drew the "sorting game".

I mixed up a few different snack foods and then taught him how to put each one in the right container.

It took quite a bit of patience for him to pick up one at a time - instead of a whole handful - and to put each piece carefully into the right cup.

After a few turns he was really enjoying the little game and was so proud of himself!

I love watching him discover new things and I am trying to enjoy every single minute of this wonderful and crazy age!

Frugal Foaming Dish Soap

2011-03-22T10:12:00.000-05:00

I really like the foaming hand soap from Bath and Body Works. I love how the soap comes out all sudsy with no need to lather!

Well, I wanted to find a way to have that same convenience in my kitchen. I decided to recycle an empty foaming bottle and make my own foaming dish soap.

Really there's not much to it...

Reusing an empty foaming hand soap bottle I rinsed out any leftover soap and peeled off the label.

{You can use goo-gone or nail polish remover to get the glue off.}

I added a small amount of liquid dish soap and then filled the rest of the bottle with water.

Give it a little shake and try it out.

My ratio was approximately 1 part soap to 6 parts water.

Of course, if it seems too thick try less soap and more water.

{I had to add a little vinyl to make it more fun!}

I love that it is so easy to use and also stretches my liquid soap a little further.

It is of course not as concentrated as the full strength liquid soap, but it works great for the pre-dishwasher cleaning that I do on most of my dishes and really for all of my general dishwashing.

{If I have an extremely greasy plastic dish then I can still pull out the liquid soap from under my sink if I need to.}

It's nice to use a lot less soap for the same sink full of dishes and not even notice the difference!

Foaming Dish Soap Works For Me!

Twoo Wuv

2011-03-18T08:07:00.000-05:00

My little brother...
the one that used to be shorter than me...the one who I thought was such a pest just a few short years ago... my little brother who is all grown up now, is getting married this summer.

We are so excited for them as they start their new life together!

I'm Linking to Finer Things Friday

Dipping Spice Recipe

2011-03-14T23:06:00.000-05:00

This is one of our family's staple recipes and is a healthier alternative to our favorite buttery garlic bread.

I serve this with warm french bread as a side dish for soup and pasta.

Italian Dipping Spice

(printable version)
Ingredients:

*1 Tablespoon of Each:

Crushed red pepper flakes

Ground black pepper

Dried oregano

Dried rosemary

Dried basil

Dried parsley

Garlic powder

Dried minced/chopped garlic

*1 teaspoon salt
*Extra virgin olive oil

Using a spice grinder or coffee grinder, grind together all dry ingredients. Sprinkle 2 teaspoons of herb mixture on a plate and drizzle a thin layer of olive oil on top. Serve with warm bread. Store mixture in an air-tight container.

Basic Sewing -- Appliques

2011-03-07T22:50:00.000-06:00

We were recently blessed with a new little niece in our family. My brother-in-law and sister-in-law had the cutest baby girl in February.

{It was so fun to go shopping in the little girl department for a change!}

I wanted to make something handmade for her using some girly fabric that I had been saving for a special occasion.

I started by making a simple monogrammed applique using wonder-under to attach it to a onesie. Once it was attached to the shirt, I stitched along the edge of the letter using a basic straight stitch. (A zigzag stitch would be fun too!)

Here's a great tutorial if you need a little more detail.

I added a little ric rac bow to finish it off.

To use up the rest of the fabric, I made the coordinating burp cloth shown in this tutorial.

It was so much fun sewing for my sweet little niece!

Just Like Daddy

2011-03-03T23:00:00.000-06:00

Drew has started to have an "opinion" about what clothes he wears.

{He has a certain pair of pajamas that he would happily wear all day if I let him.}

Sometimes it is quite a challenge to get him dressed in the morning.

Well this Sunday he decided it was time to start wearing a tie to church.

He has watched his daddy put one on every Sunday morning and he loves to do everything Daddy does.

He was so excited to get his tie on, he stood in front of the mirror for a while admiring his new look.

Ready for Church

I'm Linking to Finer Things Friday

10 Fun Facts about Redheads

2011-02-28T21:41:00.000-06:00

Because on May 15, 2009 I was blessed with a little redheaded spitfire, and because his hair doesn't seem to be changing color anytime soon, and because I love sharing random research; here are a few facts about redheads...

1. Red hair is the rarest hair type in the world with only 1-2% of the population boasting red locks.

2. Red hair is more commonly found in the United Kingdom and Ireland with famous leaders like King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Prince Harry sporting red hair.

3. Historically King David and Judas Iscariot in the Bible are thought to have had red hair.

4. The genetics behind red hair was discovered in 1997.

5. Redheads make up 2-6% of the population of the United States, giving the US the largest population of redheads in the world.

6. It has been proven that redheads require more anesthesia during surgery.

7. The red hair gene is recessive and requires both parents of a redhead to carry a copy of the gene.

8. Redheads have a lower threshold when it comes to thermal pain.

9. 40% of the population of Scotland carry the redhead gene making it the country with the highest proportion of redheads in the world.

10. Other famous redheaded leaders include Oliver Cromwell, Thomas Jefferson & Napoleon Bonaparte.

Source: Wikipedia

**It has been scientifically proven that sharing these fun facts with others will brighten a redhead's day...

ok, maybe not.

I'm Linking to Top Ten Tuesdays

Sunday Afternoon

2011-02-22T22:49:00.001-06:00

On Sunday Afternoon...

Naptime becomes a wrestling match...

Snuggles turn into tickles...

Serenity breaks into squeals of laughter...

and simple moments become sweet memories.

I'm Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Fire Chief

2011-02-15T22:51:00.001-06:00

"Tough Guy"

My Sunshine!

I'm Linking to Wordless Wednesday

Last Minute Chocolate Dipped Cookies

2011-02-11T21:38:00.000-06:00

Are you still in need of a last minute Valentine's Day treat?

Take store bought cookies and dip in melted almond bark. You can decorate with sprinkles or drizzle with chocolate.

So simple and super fast!!

21 Months: What Am I Eating?

2011-02-06T21:24:00.002-06:00

Drew loves to eat and will try almost anything!

The first phrase that he put together when he first started talking was "want more". He says "want mo" in his little southern accent whenever he's still hungry.

He knows how to communicate when it comes to food!

I try to keep breakfast and lunch very simple.
Every single morning Drew drinks a peanut butter banana smoothie for breakfast. He asks for it as soon as I get him out of his crib in the morning.

For lunch we usually eat sandwiches. Peanut butter & jelly, turkey & cheese, and grilled cheese are some of Drew's favorites.

Drew sits at the table to eat breakfast and lunch. A feeder bib is a necessity to avoid big messes!

Drew usually eats a snack while I am cooking dinner. This keeps him occupied and away from the stove. It also keeps him from begging for the raw chicken or dry noodles I am trying to cook.
His favorite snacks are Ritz crackers, which he calls "cookies", and Annie's cheddar bunny snack mix.

I try to limit snack foods as much as possible, but it's nice to have some convenience foods just for my sanity's sake!

{You know those days when it feels like all you've done is served meals and changed diapers all day!?!}

Drew usually eats whatever we are eating for dinner.
He loves any kind of rice, pasta, beans and most vegetables.

Here are a few of his favorite meals...

Yummo!!

I can imagine that in a few short years he will be eating us out of house and home!

I'm Linking to Works For Me Wednesday & Kelly's Korner

Links I Love

2011-02-04T22:20:00.000-06:00

I really need to finish putting up my Valentines decorations, but for right now...

Here are some great links!

**Check out these adorable Valentine Fortune Cookies. These cookies would be a sweet way to tell your husband or kids how much you love them!

They would also be a fun project for your kids to make and pass out instead of traditional paper valentines.

**My friend Rebecca posted a powerful video on the dangers of texting & driving. This definitely changed my perspective!!

**If you're interested in joining a book club, the (In)Courage team will be reading One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. You can check out all the info here.

{I've already read the first chapter and am

enjoying it so much!}

If you're interested in finding out more about the book, check out the trailer below.

I'm Linking up at Saturday Stumbles!

Staying Busy

2011-02-01T22:02:00.000-06:00

We've been busy "spring cleaning" and playing indoors. We haven't had any snow here in the deep south, but we are expecting a few days of heavy rain.

So far we have sorted through all of our closets and organized all of the toys.

There seems to be an overabundance of toys since Christmas!

I try to keep at least half of Drew's toys put away in his closet and rotate them out every couple of months. He gets so excited when we get out the "new" toys!

Well we better go batten down the hatches and put on our rain boots! Hope you have a great day!

I'm Linking to Wordless Wednesday & Finer Things Friday

Grandkids Sign

2011-01-27T21:35:00.001-06:00

Just wanted to show you some quick pics of the sign I made for my mother-in-law's birthday. We celebrated her birthday on Tuesday and well, I kinda' procrastinated a little...

I purchased the wooden board on Monday night and started the project Tuesday morning. I used a couple coats of gel stain --with a short dry time between each coat -- sprayed it with polyurethane, and then distressed the edges using sandpaper.

Needless to say, it was a little tacky when I added the vinyl letters and still wasn't completely dry when I gave it to her!

{It feels good to confess that I'm really a last-minute, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of crafter!}

Anyway, she really liked the sign and is proudly displaying it in her living room!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Mexican Rice

2011-01-24T22:17:00.000-06:00

Mexican rice is a great side dish for tacos, fajitas or enchiladas.

It's super easy to whip together and uses very basic ingredients.

Try this recipe as an alternative to an overpriced box mix!

Mexican Rice

(printable version)

Ingredients:

1 cup uncooked rice

2 cups chicken broth

1 tablespoon butter

½ cup salsa

1 teaspoon garlic salt

1 teaspoon taco seasoning

Directions:

Bring all ingredients to a boil. Reduce heat to low and cover. Simmer for 20-25 minutes.

Enjoy!

Links I Love

2011-01-21T09:04:00.000-06:00

Here are a few great links...

*I love Ann Voskamp's 100 Day Calendar.

It is the perfect way to break down a big project or slowly establish a new habit.

{She also has a schedule for memorizing the whole book of Colossians in one year.}

*Go HERE to see Craftomaniac's super cute and very unique vinyl project. {Hint... It involves toes!}

*If you have read Angie Smith's blog Bring The Rain you will want to check out this video of her telling Audrey's story.

Pumpkin Muffins

2011-01-18T10:00:00.000-06:00

Something about cold weather makes me want to break out the pumpkin. I had a couple of cans leftover from Thanksgiving and found this yummy recipe on Allrecipes.com.

This is probably the easiest muffin recipe ever and it doesn't use oil or eggs?!?

You can find the recipe here...

Easy Pumpkin Muffins

Try them with a little whipped cream on top!

Valentine's Day Countdown Calendar

2011-01-17T12:29:00.000-06:00

I finally finished putting away all the Christmas decorations and was able to start working on a Valentines project!

I made something similar to this last year and it was so much fun!

Using a piece of foam board covered in brown paper, I scrapbooked the background and the header onto the board. I attached the mini clothespins with double stick tape and used a circle punch to cut out the numbers.

I filled out the circles with "sweet nothings" for my husband, so each day in February he can take one off the calendar.

My husband wanted to get in on the fun too, so I am making another set of circles so he can return the love notes.

I can't wait to start "counting down"!

{alisa}

Grandma's Best Chili

2011-01-10T20:56:00.000-06:00

This is an adaptation of my mom's amazing chili recipe.

Growing up, we enjoyed this recipe on cold winter days with buttered saltine crackers and a big glass of milk.

{Donnie thinks it's weird that I have to drink milk with chili, but there is something about that combination that I love!?!)

Give this yummy recipe a try!

Grandma's Best Chili